Sheets Lifts Devil Rays

Just up from the minors, journeyman Andy Sheets is putting some much-needed pop in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays’ lineup.

Sheets hit a three-run home run to highlight a six-run second inning at Boston, and Tampa Bay’s bullpen did not give up a run over six innings as the Devil Rays beat the Red Sox, 9-5, Wednesday night.

“He’s hungry, so naturally I’m going to play him,” Devil Ray Manager Hal McCrae said of Sheets, who was called up from triple-A Durham on Saturday. “We don’t have enough wins, and he’s a hungry player. He’s trying to climb and I need climbers at this point.”

Sheets also had a single and a double as the Devil Rays won their second in a row against Boston after dropping their first eight against the Red Sox this season, including a 22-4 loss in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday.

Tampa Bay starter Joe Kennedy lasted only three innings, giving up nine hits and five runs.

But Jesus Colome (2-5) pitched three hitless innings in relief for the victory, and Victor Zambrano gave up one hit over the last three innings for his first save.

Frank Castillo (5-11), who made his first relief appearance for Boston on Sunday against the New York Yankees, lasted only 1 2/3 innings and lost his fifth consecutive decision. In four starts this month, he has given up 16 earned runs in 18 innings.

Castillo, who lost his fifth consecutive decision and hasn’t won since June 12, may be dropped from the starting rotation, Manager Grady Little suggested.

“The way things have been going with Frankie, a change may be in order and we are going to look into that over the next couple of days,” Little said.

New York 14, Cleveland 7--Jason Giambi homered off the top of the foul pole in right field at Cleveland, and tied a Yankee record by scoring five runs.

New York led, 10-0, after two innings and made things easy for David Wells (11-5), who wasn’t sharp but didn’t have to be.

Giambi matched the club mark for runs, achieved 14 times by 11 players. He had four hits and drove in three runs.

Minnesota 8, Chicago 1--David Ortiz hit a three-run homer and Torii Hunter had three hits to lift the Twins at Chicago.

Doug Mientkiewicz and Bobby Kielty also homered for the Twins, who opened a 14-game lead in the American League Central. Chicago, which stranded 12 runners, has lost 15 of 21.

Twin starter Kyle Lohse (10-5) gave up eight hits in his longest outing this season.

Toronto 5, Baltimore 2--Chris Carpenter (4-1) won his fourth consecutive decision, and Carlos Delgado hit the first of three consecutive run-scoring singles in the eighth inning at Baltimore.

Dewayne Wise hit his first major league homer for the Blue Jays, who have won 10 of 12.

Toronto improved to 4-0 against Baltimore by sweeping the rain-shortened two-game series.

Detroit 3, Kansas City 0--Jose Lima (2-4) gave up two hits in seven innings at Detroit to win for the first time since April 16 in the fastest nine-inning game in the major leagues--1 hour 41 minutes--in 18 years.

Atlanta beat San Diego, 4-3, in 1:39 on Sept. 30, 1984.