Contreras Stars as Yankees Sweep

The hugs and kisses said it all for Jose Contreras. With his family looking on, he became the dominating pitcher the New York Yankees expected all along.

Making his first start since his wife and children defected from Cuba last week, Contreras struck out a career-high 10 in six shutout innings, beating the New York Mets, 8-1, Sunday at Yankee Stadium in the opener of a doubleheader sweep.

In the second game, Mike Mussina (9-4) improved to 8-0 in his last 11 starts with an 11-6 win.

Ruben Sierra hit a three-run homer in a six-run first off Matt Ginter (1-2) and added a two-run single after the Mets closed to 7-5 in the top half. Miguel Cairo hit a solo homer and had a two-run single for the Yankees, who beat the Mets twice in the same day for the third time since interleague play began in 1997.

At a news conference between games, Contreras was accompanied by wife Miriam and their two daughters. He dedicated his win to his family and to “the people of Cuba who support me.”

“During the game, I didn’t think about my family,” he said through a translator. “I concentrated on getting one out after another. I knew after the game my family would be here.”

Contreras stifled the Mets on two hits until cramps in his forearm and thumb forced him out three pitches into the seventh.

Derek Jeter, who turned 30 a day earlier, backed Contreras with a pair of solo homers against Steve Trachsel, and Gary Sheffield homered for the second straight day. Hideki Matsui added an eighth-inning grand slam.

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San Diego 5, Seattle 1 -- Jeff Cirillo hit a three-run homer against his former team at Seattle.

Adam Eaton (4-7) worked 6 1/3 solid innings, giving up one run and three hits with four strikeouts and two walks as the Padres won two in the three-game series.

Detroit 9, Arizona 5 -- Carlos Pena’s grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning at Detroit sent the Diamondbacks to their team-record ninth straight loss.

It was the fourth win in a row for the Tigers.

St. Louis 10, Kansas City 3 -- Mike Matheny had four RBIs and Scott Rolen and Edgar Renteria each had three hits and scored three runs at Kansas City, Mo.

Boston 12, Philadelphia 3 -- Curt Schilling beat his former team for his 10th win of the season, and David Ortiz homered and drove in three runs at Boston.

Houston 1, Texas 0 -- Roy Oswalt struck out nine while throwing eight shutout innings, benefiting from a home run-robbing catch by newly acquired Carlos Beltran at Arlington, Texas.

Beltran, acquired from Kansas City in a three-way trade last Thursday, scored the lone run for Houston.

Milwaukee 7, Minnesota 3 -- Doug Davis won his fourth straight start and Lyle Overbay homered to lead the Brewers at Minneapolis.

Atlanta 8, Baltimore 7 -- J.D. Drew homered in a seven-run eighth inning for the Braves at Atlanta.

It was the biggest comeback of the year for the Braves, who trailed, 7-0, after six innings.

Montreal 9, Toronto 4 -- Tony Batista homered and drove in five runs at Toronto. Brad Wilkerson also homered for the Expos, who salvaged the last game of the three-game series.

Florida 11, Tampa Bay 4 -- Carl Pavano (9-2) pitched seven strong innings at St. Petersburg, Fla., to earn his career-high sixth straight victory and end the Devil Rays’ 13-game interleague winning streak.

Cleveland 5, Colorado 3 -- Matt Lawton doubled home two runs in the seventh inning for the Indians at Cleveland.