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Astros Blow 9-1 Lead but Win

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From the Associated Press

After Brad Lidge gave up a tying grand slam to Tadahito Iguchi with two out in the ninth inning Sunday night, Willy Taveras’ run-scoring single in the 13th sent the visiting Houston Astros to a 10-9 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

The Astros blew an eight-run lead but recovered to avoid a three-game sweep in this World Series rematch and end Chicago’s nine-game win streak.

Adam Everett led off the 13th with a triple down the right-field line, off the glove of a diving Ross Gload. A fan also interfered, and White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen came out of the dugout to argue.

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But Taveras singled to left against Brandon McCarthy (3-4) to break the tie.

The Astros led, 6-1, after Mike Lamb and Lance Berkman each hit two-run homers during the fifth inning against Javier Vazquez, 9-1 after scoring three in the top of the seventh and 9-5 entering the ninth.

The Astros brought in Lidge, who gave up Scott Podsednik’s game-ending homer in Game 2 of the World Series and the lone run in Game 4 on Jermaine Dye’s single in the eighth. And the White Sox delivered more heartache on Sunday after A.J. Pierzynski’s leadoff single.

Things really came apart with two out, when Alex Cintron singled and Podsednik walked to load the bases. Iguchi, who hit a three-run homer in the eighth, drilled a 1-and-1 pitch over the center-field wall to tie it at 9-9.

It was the second grand slam and second multihomer game of Iguchi’s career. It was the first time the White Sox hit grand slams in three consecutive games, and they became the first team to do so since the Detroit Tigers from Aug. 10 to 12, 1993.

This was Chicago’s biggest comeback since rallying from 8-0 to beat the Cubs on June 28, 2002.

Fernando Nieve (3-3) struck out Paul Konerko to end the 12th and worked the 13th.

Detroit 4, St. Louis 1 -- Curtis Granderson hit a go-ahead double in a three-run eighth inning, and the Tigers finished a three-game sweep of the Cardinals at Detroit.

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The Tigers have won nine of 10, maintaining the best record in baseball. The Cardinals have lost six in a row for the first time since 2002.

Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman gave up one run, seven hits and a walk over seven innings while throwing a season-high 116 pitches. Wilfredo Ledezma (1-0) got the victory.

Oakland 10, San Francisco 4 -- Jay Payton went four for five with three RBIs and Esteban Loaiza (7-6) pitched his first complete game in more than two years with a victory at San Francisco in a game in which the Giants’ Barry Bonds left early.

Bonds left after the second inning because of irritation in his left knee. He had surgery on the knee after the 2004 season.

The team said he is day to day.

Cincinnati 4, Cleveland 2 -- Ken Griffey Jr. moved up on the all-time home run list with a two-run shot and Adam Dunn added a two-run homer at Cleveland to help the Reds claim their first series victory over the Indians in nine years.

Griffey’s 549th homer broke a tie with Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt and gave him sole possession of 11th on the all-time list, 14 behind Reggie Jackson.

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Minnesota 8, Chicago Cubs 1 -- Brad Radke (6-7) threw seven shutout innings to spoil Derrek Lee’s return from two months on the disabled list, and the Twins capped a three-game sweep at Minneapolis.

Lee, who sat out 59 games after breaking his wrist in a collision with the Dodgers’ Rafael Furcal on April 19, went one for four with a single and two strikeouts.

N.Y. Mets 7, Toronto 4 -- Jose Reyes had four hits again, including a leadoff homer, and Carlos Beltran hit a three-run shot at Toronto.

The streaking Reyes went four for five for the second consecutive game and the third time in five days. He extended his hitting streak to 13 games and is on a 32-for-57 (.561) tear that has raised his batting average from .246 to .302.

Steve Trachsel (6-4) won his fourth straight start.

N.Y. Yankees 2-0, Florida 1-5 -- Anibal Sanchez shut down the Yankees for 5 2/3 innings in his major league debut and Miguel Cabrera homered to help the Marlins split a doubleheader at New York.

In the opener, Mike Mussina (9-3) outpitched Dontrelle Willis (4-7) and Johnny Damon homered to break a seventh-inning tie in the Yankees’ victory.

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The Yankees lost second baseman Robinson Cano to a strained left hamstring in the second game.

Washington 9, Baltimore 5 -- Livan Hernandez (6-8) won for the first time in four starts, Royce Clayton hit a three-run double and the visiting Nationals ended a five-game skid.

Washington exploited the wildness of Daniel Cabrera (4-5), who walked five, hit a batter and threw a team-record four wild pitches -- one shy of the AL mark -- in 4 2/3 innings.

Atlanta 4, Tampa Bay 1 -- Chuck James took a one-hitter into the seventh inning of his first major league start, leading the Braves at St. Petersburg, Fla. Todd Pratt had a three-run homer in helping the Braves win for only the fifth time in 26 games.

Colorado 3, Texas 0 -- Byung-Hyun Kim (5-4) scattered five hits and struck out seven over seven innings and Jamey Carroll scored twice for the Rockies at Denver. Jose Mesa struck out two in the eighth and Brian Fuentes struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 15th save.

Kansas City 6, Milwaukee 0 -- Mark Redman (5-4) gave up six hits over seven innings to win his fifth straight start and Doug Mientkiewicz went three for three and drove in three runs at Kansas City, Mo.

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Redman, who began the season 0-4 in his first seven starts, is 5-0 with a 3.74 ERA since coming off the bereavement list after his father had successful heart surgery.

Philadelphia at Boston -- The game was postponed because of rain. It will be made up today.

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Reggie’s next

Ken Griffey Jr. passed Mike Schmidt on the all-time home run list Sunday. Home run leaders through Sunday (x-active):

*--* Player No. 1. Hank Aaron 755 2. x-Barry Bonds 719 3. Babe Ruth 714 4. Willie Mays 660 5. Sammy Sosa 588 6. Frank Robinson 586 7. Mark McGwire 583 8. Harmon Killebrew 573 9. Rafael Palmeiro 569 10. Reggie Jackson 563 11. x-Ken Griffey Jr. 549 12. Mike Schmidt 548 13. Mickey Mantle 536

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-- The Associated Press

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