Motivated Yankees Answer Challenge

The New York Yankees answered George Steinbrenner with a record-setting blowout.

Alex Rodriguez, Tino Martinez and the Yankees broke out for 13 runs in the second inning Monday night on the way to a 19-8 rout of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at New York to end a four-game skid.

One day after Steinbrenner lashed out at his $200-million team for its 4-8 start, the Yankees quickly showed just how powerful their offense can be.

“George challenged us, and the team responded really well,” Rodriguez said. “We needed to stop the bleeding.”

Rodriguez homered twice, doubled twice and finished with five hits. He drove in six runs and scored five times. Martinez hit a grand slam and knocked in six runs. Bernie Williams had three hits, and Jason Giambi scored three runs, making a winner of Jaret Wright (2-1).

In the victory, the Yankees boosted their team batting average from .258 to .277.

Detroit 13, Baltimore 3 -- Dmitri Young went three for five with a homer and three runs batted in, leading a 16-hit attack that carried the Tigers past the Orioles at Baltimore.

Omar Infante also homered for the Tigers, who cruised to their first win against Baltimore since May 7, 2003. Detroit was 0-6 against the Orioles last season, scoring a total of 17 runs.

Baltimore’s Brian Roberts extended his hitting streak to 13 games, but Miguel Tejada’s run of nine games in a row with an RBI ended.

Boston 12, Toronto 7 -- Manny Ramirez hit two home runs over the Green Monster, and Curt Schilling got his first win as the Red Sox beat the Blue Jays at Boston.

Boston’s ace labored in his second start of the season and barely made it through the fifth inning to qualify for the win with 118 pitches and a 9-3 lead. He got out of two bases-loaded jams, one when he struck out Frank Catalanatto to end the second inning.

Oakland 8, Texas 5 -- Dan Haren pitched six solid innings, and cleanup hitter Erubiel Durazo ended a season-long slump with his first extra-base hits to lead the Athletics over the Rangers at Arlington, Texas.

Durazo went three for four with two doubles and an RBI. He came in hitting .154 with no extra-base hits in 39 at-bats.

Chicago 5, Minnesota 4 -- Carl Everett homered twice, including a tiebreaking two-run drive in the sixth inning that led the White Sox over the Twins at Chicago.

Cleveland 5, Kansas City 1 -- Casey Blake and Ben Broussard hit consecutive home runs, and Cliff Lee blanked the Royals on two hits over seven innings to lead the Indians at Kansas City, Mo.