Jason Varitek hit a grand slam, Mike Lowell drove in six runs and the Boston Red Sox earned their biggest comeback victory against the Yankees since 1968, beating New York 16-11 for their ninth straight win on Saturday. Down 6-0, Boston came back with five runs in the fourth inning. Lowell hit a three-run homer in the seventh then added a three-run double in the eighth to put Boston out of reach. Dustin Pedroia had three hits and Jacoby Ellsbury hit his first homer of the year for Boston. Robinson Cano homered twice and drove in five for the Yankees. Johnny Damon also homered. Yankees star Jorge Posada was called for catcher's interference and a passed ball in the same inning; Pedroia - the 2008 American League MVP - had a two-run error and got thrown out on a baserunning bungle. Athletics 5, Rays 2: At Oakland, California, Jason Giambi hit the first homer of his second stint with Oakland, and Nomar Garciaparra hit a three-run double as Oakland snapped a five-game skid. Dallas Braden (2-2) allowed one run and four hits in 5 2-3 innings to earn the win. Travis Buck also homered for Oakland leading off the third. Matt Garza (1-2) gave up four runs in the loss. He struck out six in 5 2-3 innings but walked four, three of which scored. In other American League games it was: Rangers 6, Orioles 5; Mariners 9, Angels 8; Twins 7, Indians 1; White Sox 10, Blue Jays 2; Tigers 9, Royals 1. Cards thump Cubs In St. Louis, Albert Pujols hit his second grand slam of the season and surpassed 1,000 career RBIs, sending St. Louis to an 8-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the surging Cardinals ninth straight home win on Saturday. The Cardinals are 13-5 overall, good for first place in the National League Central. Pujols drove the first pitch from reliever David Patton in the seventh inning to left field an estimated 441 feet (135 meters). It was the eighth career grand slam for Pujols, who is hitting .348 with 25 RBIs and seven homers already this season. The four RBIs gave Pujols 1,002 in his career, making him the sixth Cardinals player to reach that milestone. The Cubs have lost their last four games. Elsewhere in the National League it was: Braves 10, Reds 2; Mets 8, Nationals 2; Phillies 6, Marlins 4, 10 innings; Dodgers 6, Rockies 5; Brewers 9, Astros 8, 11 innings; Pirates 10, Padres 1; Giants 5, Diamondbacks 3.
