Inspired Yankees sweep Sox
Bloodied and bruised, Derek Jeter showed just why the New York Yankees always seem to come out ahead of Boston.
The All-Star shortstop made one of the greatest plays of his career, hurtling headfirst into the stands at full tilt for a catch to end the 12th inning. While he was on his way to a hospital, the Yankees rallied past the Red Sox 5-4 in the 13th Thursday night for a stirring sweep, at New York.
Manny Ramirez homered twice, including a leadoff shot in the top of the 13th. But with two outs in the bottom half, Miguel Cairo hit a tying double and scored on pinch-hitter John Flaherty’s single.
Pedro Martinez got the game off to a hot start, hitting Gary Sheffield in the back with a pitch in the opening inning and riling up the sellout crowd. Yankees rookie Brad Halsey matched Martinez into the middle innings, and then the real drama began.
The Yankees extended their A.L. East lead over Boston to 8 1/2 games. The Red Sox have lost eight of 11.
Both teams blew bases-loaded chances in extra innings before the Yankees wound up with their fifth straight win. And more than anyone, they can thank Jeter.
Jeter left the ballpark with a bruised right cheek, a cut on his chin and a banged-up right shoulder. It was a play that stunned the 55,265 fans and also scared them, and they gasped when the replay was shown on the video board.
With runners at second and third and two outs, pinch-hitter Trot Nixon sliced a pop down the left-field line. Jeter took off running and, without regard for his safety, he made the catch in fair territory and then went sprawling full-tilt into the crowd.
Only the hard-backed seats stopped his momentum, and several Yankees immediately ran to his aid. Jeter emerged after a minute, a trainer holding a towel to his chin.
His cheek all red, he slowly walked across the diamond and tossed the ball into the crowd to a rousing ovation.
It was a game that had a little bit of everything — even Alex Rodriguez back at shortstop. In the 11th, he made a nifty stop at third that, for a moment, had the Yankees thinking they’d turned a bases-loaded triple play.
Rodriguez moved over from third base after Jeter was injured. Gary Sheffield shifted from right field to third base for the first time since 1993, and made a throwing error. Jason Giambi pinch-hit in his first appearance in five games because of an intestinal parasite.
•Kevin Brown was diagnosed with intestinal parasites, joining Jason Giambi as the second member of the New York Yankees to test positive for the ailment this week.
Brown has been out with a bad back since leaving a start June 9, but he’s also been ailing “about 3 1/2 weeks or so since we got back from Japan,” losing 15 pounds and struggling even to get out of bed each day.
Dodgers place struggling Nomo on DL
Hideo Nomo, winless in his last nine decisions, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right rotator cuff.
However, Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta said it’s likely Nomo would be sidelined longer than that.
The Dodgers purchased the contract of right-hander Giovanni Carrara from Triple-A Las Vegas, where the former Mariner was 0-1 with two saves and a 2.51 ERA in 11 games.
Braves bring up Drew from Triple-A Richmond
The Atlanta Braves brought up right-hander Tim Drew, making him and older brother J.D. the 12th pair of siblings to play on the same Braves team.
Wood escapes serious injury, ready for rehab
Kerry Wood got a scare when he was hit under the chin by a line drive in his final simulated game before an anticipated minor league rehab assignment next week.
Wood, on the disabled list since May 12 with a sore triceps muscle, threw four innings to teammates Paul Bako, Jose Macias and Tom Goodwin.
Bako hit a hard liner through the middle and Wood was able to deflect the ball with his glove and slow it down before it clipped him under the chin. He shook it off and continued his outing.