Sheffield, Rodriguez Lead Yankees’ Victory

The New York Yankees found the perfect way to make Esteban Loaiza feel right at home: They pulled off one of their signature comebacks.

Gary Sheffield hit a tying homer in the ninth inning, and Alex Rodriguez’s two-run shot in the 11th gave the Yankees an 8-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night at New York.

Eric Byrnes hit a three-run drive for one of three homers by the A’s, who tagged Loaiza for five runs in his Yankee debut.

But New York rallied against the Athletic bullpen, sending Oakland to only its second loss in 11 games.

“I always used to see it on TV, now I’m here and I’m part of it,” said Loaiza, who stuck around in the dugout to see the late-inning excitement up close.

With the Yankees trailing, 6-4, in the ninth, Derek Jeter blooped a one-out single to right off closer Octavio Dotel.

Sheffield then sent a 1-and-1 pitch over the left-field fence to tie it, bringing a huge roar from the crowd of 47,885.

It was Dotel’s third blown save in 11 chances with the A’s since he was acquired from Houston.

After Mariano Rivera threw 51 pitches in two scoreless innings, Sheffield singled with one out in the 11th off Justin Duchscherer (4-3). Rodriguez, playing with a sore leg, followed with a high drive over the left-field fence, giving him the American League lead with 29 home runs.

Rodriguez raised his right arm as he rounded first, then was greeted by his teammates at home plate.

Baltimore 6, Seattle 3 -- Rafael Palmeiro singled in two runs to break a seventh-inning tie at Baltimore and the Orioles handed the Mariners their sixth consecutive loss.

Randy Winn homered and Ichiro Suzuki had three hits for the Mariners, who have lost eight of nine to fall 29 games under .500 (39-68) for the first time since Aug. 13, 1988.

About the only positive for the Mariners was that they ended their major league-tying run of 26 consecutive games in which they yielded a home run. Seattle had given up a homer in every game since July 4.

Kansas City 11, Chicago 0 -- Brian Anderson pitched a career-best two-hitter to win for the first time since April 20 and John Buck had three hits, including a three-run homer that capped a seven-run first inning at Kansas City, Mo.

Aaron Rowand was the only batter to reach against Anderson, doubling leading off the game, walking in the third, then doubling again in the ninth. Anderson retired eight batters in a row before Rowand’s walk and 17 before the ninth-inning hit.

Anderson (2-9), who struck out seven and walked one, had been 0-9 in 11 starts and nine relief appearances since beating Cleveland on April 20. Anderson got his fourth career shutout, his first since a seven-hitter against the Angels on Sept. 5 and only his second since Aug. 17, 1999, when he pitched the third three-hitter of his career. It was only his 11th complete game in 229 starts.

Tampa Bay 5, Boston 4 -- Toby Hall ended an 0-for-18 slump with his first career grand slam in the seventh inning at St. Petersburg, Fla.

With Tampa Bay trailing, 4-1, Hall hit a 1-and-2 pitch with no one out from Bronson Arroyo (4-8) into the left-field seats to put the Devil Rays ahead. It was only their second victory in nine games against Boston.

Travis Harper (3-2) worked a scoreless inning for the victory. Jesus Colome struck out Orlando Cabrera and Manny Ramirez in the eighth before Danys Baez got four outs for his 23rd save in 25 opportunities.

But Baez had to sweat through the ninth, when Boston had the tying run thrown out at the plate.

Kevin Millar hit a leadoff single and advanced to second on a passed ball before Dave Roberts came in and pinch-ran. Doug Mientkiewicz followed with a single to center and Roberts tried to score but was thrown out at the plate by center fielder Rocco Baldelli.

Texas 8, Detroit 0 -- Mike Bacsik gave up four hits over seven innings in his Texas debut, and Laynce Nix hit a two-run homer at Detroit.

Texas won its second consecutive game after losing five of seven. Detroit lost its third in a row and was shut out for only the second time, the first since April 15.

Bacsik (1-0), who signed with Texas in December, struck out four and walked none. He became the 14th pitcher to start for Texas, the eighth who spent time in the minor leagues.

Bacsik was 4-4 with a 6.12 earned-run average in 12 starts and seven relief appearances in parts of three seasons with the New York Mets and Cleveland.

His father, Mike, pitched for the Rangers from 1975 to 1977, and they are the first father-son duo in Ranger history.

Cleveland 14, Toronto 5 -- Travis Hafner homered twice and tied a career high with six runs batted in at Toronto.

Casey Blake went five for six to match a career high for hits as the Indians tied their season best with 21 hits.