Mauer’s First Homer Is One to Remember

Joe Mauer made his first major league home run a memorable one.

He hit a tiebreaking, three-run shot with two outs in the eighth inning to help the Minnesota Twins defeat the Detroit Tigers, 6-5, Sunday at Minneapolis.

The rookie catcher connected on a 3-and-1 pitch from Esteban Yan (0-2), capping a two-out rally and giving the slumping Twins a 6-3 lead. They held on in the ninth for their first series victory after four defeats.

“I don’t know what it is about superstars, but they do those things,” Twin Manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Mauer, from St. Paul, Minn., was the No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft. He injured a knee in the second game of the season and returned from surgery Wednesday. He was hitless in eight at-bats until the home run.

With two outs in the eighth, Yan entered the game and gave up a double to Torii Hunter. He then hit Matthew LeCroy with a pitch before Mauer drove a fastball 408 feet to right.

New York 2, Texas 1 -- Mike Mussina took a shutout into the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium and Jason Giambi homered in his return from the disabled list. Mussina (7-4) kept the Rangers off balance, mixing his fastball with a knuckle curve to win his sixth consecutive decision.

Bernie Williams, batting leadoff for the first time in eight years because Derek Jeter sat out for the second straight day because of a pulled right groin, homered on the first pitch of the fourth inning to help the Yankees win for the 11th time in 13 games.

Boston 5, Kansas City 3 -- Johnny Damon hit a tiebreaking double during a five-run sixth inning, and the Red Sox rallied at Kansas City, Mo. The Royals also may have lost first baseman Ken Harvey and reliever Jason Grimsley.

Harvey and Grimsley were hurt in a violent collision in the sixth. They stayed on the ground and appeared to be in considerable pain before they were taken to a hospital for X-rays.

The team said Grimsley’s right jaw and left forearm would be examined, as well as Harvey’s right wrist and forearm.

Oakland 8, Toronto 3 -- Eric Byrnes’ leadoff home run sparked a four-run first inning at Oakland. Scott Hatteberg broke open the game with a three-run double in the seventh to help the A’s win for the fifth time in six games to match a season best at seven games over .500.

Mark Redman (4-3) yielded three runs in five innings for the win, and Oakland closed it out with stellar relief. Justin Duchscherer pitched three hitless innings to lower his earned-run average to 1.08, and Arthur Rhodes finished.

Seattle 5, Chicago 4 -- Closer Billy Koch (1-1)walked former Dodger Jolbert Cabrera with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, forcing in Willie Bloomquist with the winning run.

With one out, Ichiro Suzuki singled and stole second. Randy Winn doubled to left, driving in Suzuki. After John Olerud walked, Winn stole third. Bloomquist ran for Olerud. Bret Boone singled to right, driving in Winn with the tying run.

After Bloomquist and Boone executed a double steal, Edgar Martinez was walked intentionally. Koch then walked Cabrera.

Baltimore 5, Tampa Bay 4 -- Rodrigo Lopez won his second start in a row and B.J. Surhoff drove in two runs to lead the Orioles at Baltimore. Lopez (5-2), making his fourth start since leaving the bullpen, gave up three runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. Jorge Julio, the fourth Baltimore pitcher, worked the ninth for his ninth save.