NEW YORK — Derek Lowe was being given a tour of the New York Yankees’ facilities and changing at a locker without a nameplate Monday afternoon. David Phelps had little more than a day to prepare for a spot start in place of ace CC Sabathia.
No matter. The unlikely duo shut down the potent Texas Rangers.
Phelps pitched a career-high five innings and picked off two runners, and Lowe completed New York’s 8-2 victory Monday night with four shutout innings in his Yankees debut.
“To have those two guys step up to do what they did today, to give those guys like D-Rob [David Robertson] and [Rafael] Soriano a full day off and not have to warm up and anything that’s big,” said Nick Swisher, who hit a grand slam off Ryan Dempster and drove in five runs.
In the opener of a four-game series between the teams with the AL’s best records, the Yankees powered their way to a sixth consecutive victory over Texas in the Bronx.
Swisher’s second slam this season was his 200th career home run. Eric Chavez also homered off Dempster (1-1), the Rangers’ recent acquisition. Ichiro Suzuki tripled and Derek Jeter followed with a long RBI double in the seventh to end Dempster’s third start for Texas.
Dempster matched a season high by allowing eight runs. The other time he allowed eight was in his first start for Texas on Aug. 2. In three starts since coming from the Chicago Cubs in a trade-deadline deal, Dempster has allowed 19 runs - 16 earned - in 17 1/3 innings.
Phelps (3-3) was being held to a 75-80 pitch limit. Phelps needed 26 pitches in the first without being hit hard. But thanks in part to a nifty pick off move, he fulfilled his manager’s wish to make it through five innings.
“I really wanted to get him through the fifth inning. I thought it was important for him,” Manager Joe Girardi said. “It’s important for us, too.”
Phelps turned over a 5-2 lead to Lowe in the sixth. Designated for assignment by Cleveland on Aug. 2 and released Friday, Lowe signed with New York earlier Monday and made his first appearance since July 31.
Lowe earned his first regular season save since 2001 while with Boston, shutting down Texas on two hits. He walked none and struck out four.
Lowe went 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA for the Indians this season, and he had an 8.80 ERA in his final 12 starts for Cleveland.
BLUE JAYS 3, WHITE SOX 2 David Cooper singled home the winning run in the 11th inning as host Toronto beat the Chicago White Sox.
TWINS 9, TIGERS 3 Darin Mastroianni and Ryan Doumit each homered and drove in three runs and host Minnesota snapped a four-game losing streak.
National League PADRES 4, BRAVES 1 Eric Stults and two relievers pitched a combined five-hitter, Chase Headley homered and drove in two runs, and San Diego beat host Atlanta. Stults (3-2) gave up five hits and one run in 7 2/3 innings - his longest start in three years.
DODGERS 5, PIRATES 4 Shane Victorino hit his 10th home run of the season and drove in three runs to lift Los Angeles over host Pittsburgh.
PHILLIES 4, MARLINS 0 Cole Hamels pitched his second consecutive shutout for Philadelphia in a victory over host Miami. Hamels, coming off a five-hitter against Atlanta last Tuesday, scattered seven hits and struck out five in his sixth career shutout and 12th complete game. He walked one and threw 85 of 113 pitches for strikes.
CUBS 7, ASTROS 1 Jeff Samardzija (8-10) struck out a career high-tying 11 in seven innings and host Chicago beat Houston.
ROCKIES 9, BREWERS 6 DJ LeMahieu had a career-best four hits and host Colorado beat Milwaukee.
Monday’s games NATIONAL LEAGUE LA Dodgers 5, Pittsburgh 4 Philadelphia 4, Miami 0 San Diego 4, Atlanta 1 Chicago Cubs 7, Houston 1 Colorado 9, Milwaukee 6 Washington at San Francisco, (n) AMERICAN LEAGUE NY Yankees 8, Texas 2 Toronto 3, Chicago White Sox 2, 11 innings Minnesota 9, Detroit 3 Cleveland at LA Angels, (n) Tampa Bay at Seattle, (n)
Sports, Pages 18 on 08/14/2012