Third Time Proves Charm for Mondesi

It took Raul Mondesi three times before he got it right--and just when the Toronto Blue Jays needed it the most.

Mondesi hit a game-tying two-run double in the ninth inning and scored on Tony Batista’s single as Toronto beat the visiting Red Sox, 7-6, Tuesday night, stopping Boston’s winning streak at six.

Mondesi, who went two for five, twice came to the plate with the bases loaded, but popped out and hit into a forceout. Both outs came on the first pitch.

“I play aggressive. If I see something I like, I swing,” Mondesi said. “The same way I played the game 10 years ago, is the same way I play now.”

With Boston leading 6-4, Shannon Stewart singled off Derek Lowe (2-1) leading off the ninth, Jose Cruz doubled and Mondesi tied it with a double off the wall in left-center field, just missing a home run. Again, it was on the first pitch.

Carlos Delgado followed with an intentional walk, Brad Fullmer struck out and Mondesi stole third. Batista then singled off the glove of second baseman Jose Offerman, capping Toronto’s comeback from a 4-0 deficit.

Chicago 4, New York 0--Cal Eldred allowed three hits in six innings at New York and the White Sox sent the Yankees to their fifth consecutive loss.

Rangers 9, Devil Rays 7--Ivan Rodriguez broke a tie with a three-run double in the eighth inning, and he homered in his third consecutive game for the Rangers at Arlington, Texas.

Kansas City 8, Oakland 7--Jorge Fabregas, who tied the game with an RBI single in the seventh, hit a two-run single in the ninth off Doug Jones (0-1) as the Royals rallied from a 5-1 deficit and won for just the sixth time in 21 road games.

Cleveland 11, Detroit 9--Travis Fryman had four RBIs at Cleveland and Charles Nagy (2-4) won his first game since April 11 as the Indians won for the fourth time in five games.

Seattle 9, Minnesota 5--Jay Buhner hit a two-run homer and Edgar Martinez drove in three runs at Seattle for the Mariners, who have outscored the Twins 23-5 in the first two games of the series.