CHICAGO, Sept 18 - Magglio Ordonez slammed a pair of home runs against his
former team as the Detroit Tigers pounded the Chicago White Sox 8-2 on Monday to
keep the Minnesota Twins at bay in the AL Central.
The win pushed the Tigers 1 ? games clear of the Twins in the Central
division standings and dealt a punishing blow to Chicago's post-season hopes,
leaving the World Series champions 4 ? games behind Minnesota in the wildcard
race.
Ordonez, who moved from the Windy City to the Motor City two years ago as a
free agent, connected on a solo shot in the fourth and followed up with another
solo home run in the sixth to put the Tigers 4-0 ahead.
Craig Monroe got Detroit off to a booming start with a two-run blast in the
first while Brandon Inge sealed the win with a three-run shot in the ninth to
complete the rout.
Kenny Rogers (16-6) did his part on the mound, scattering four hits over six
shutout innings to collect his fifth straight decision.
Mark Buehrle (12-13) took the loss after giving up four runs on 10 hits in 6
2/3 innings of work.
The game also featured the White Sox turning a rare triple play in the first
inning.
With runners on first and second and nobody out, Carlos Guillen hit a line
drive to third baseman Joe Crede, who threw to second baseman Tadahito Iguchi
for the second and third outs.
Iguchi stepped on second base for the second out and tagged Ordonez as the
White Sox became the first team since the 1995 Cincinnati Reds to turn two
triple plays in the same season.
In Toronto, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter each belted two-run homers to
power the New York Yankees to a 7-6 win over the Blue Jays.
The win left the Yankees three games away from clinching the AL east title
for the ninth straight season and left the Blue Jays one loss away from being
officially eliminated from post-season contention.
Bernie Williams, Bobby Abreu and Andy Phillips contributed an RBI to the win
while Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano had two hits each.
Darrell Rasner (3-0) took credit for the win, allowing three runs on six hits
with three strikeouts and a pair of walks. Jose Veras -- the last of six
relievers to see duty -- came on to record the final out and his first save.
Trailing 7-3, Troy Glaus hammered a three-run homer to get Toronto within one
but could not complete the comeback.
