Daniel Cabrera

Hours after Rafael Palmeiro was suspended for violating baseball's steroid policy, the Chicago White Sox capped a miserable day for the Orioles by sending them to their 12th loss in 13 games and completing a four-game sweep. Mark Buehrle's streak of pitching at least six innings ended at 49 games with an ejection for hitting a batter with a pitch, but the White Sox finished off their first four-game sweep in Baltimore since 1954 with a 6-3 victory yesterday. Without Palmiero, the Orioles stranded 10 runners and completed a 1-7 homestand in which they were outscored, 52-31.

Just when the slumping New York Yankees got Alex Rodriguez back, Derek Jeter went down with an injury that nearly led to a brawl with Baltimore. Adam Jones hit a three-run double during Baltimore's seven-run first inning against Mike Mussina, and the Orioles routed New York, 12-2, last night in a feisty game that included a late homer by A-Rod in his return from the disabled list. The Orioles took advantage of a two-out throwing error by Jeter in the first to build a big cushion for Daniel Cabrera (5-1)

Rich Harden carried a perfect game into the eighth inning last night, finishing with a masterful two-hitter in the Athletics' 6-0 victory over the Texas Rangers in Oakland, Calif. Harden (6-4) was five outs from the 18th perfect game in major league history when Alfonso Soriano hit a clean single to center. It was the closest a big league pitcher has come to a no-hitter this season. Harden was the first to make it through seven innings, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The crowd gave him a warm standing ovation, and he quickly recovered.

BALTIMORE - Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp considers Daniel Cabrera "a cool acquaintance. " "We're not best boys," Crisp said, "but we've hung out a couple of times. " But that was before Cabrera did something not only uncool but dangerous, throwing a pitch at Dustin Pedroia's head after Crisp's fake dash toward home plate from third base provoked the Orioles starter into a run-producing balk and nearly set off a bench-clearing brawl during the Red Sox' 4-0 win last night. "The guy's an idiot," Pedroia said.

Jon Lieber dominated the top-scoring team in the major leagues, looking completely recovered from the elbow operation that caused him to miss last season. Lieber retired his first 11 batters, then gave up four straight hits before getting 11 more outs in a row, leading the Yankees over the Anaheim Angels, 7-4, yesterday in New York. Ruben Sierra, Hideki Matsui, and Bernie Williams hit solo homers off John Lackey, with Williams getting his first three-hit game of the season.

NEW YORK -- The Yankees are used to blowouts at home, just not this way. After observing a pregame moment of silence in memory of Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto, New York was taken out of the game early by Daniel Cabrera and the Baltimore Orioles' bats. Cabrera pitched two-hit ball into the seventh inning, Aubrey Huff hit a grand slam, and the Orioles cooled off the Yankees with a 12-0 win last night. The loss matched the Yankees' largest margin of defeat this season and was their worst shutout loss since Oakland beat them, 12-0, Sept.

Orioles 7 Yankees 1 NEW YORK -- The most astonishing thing about Daniel Cabrera's near no-hitter was the mighty lineup it came against. Cabrera got within two outs of a stunning gem against the star-studded Yankees before Robinson Cano slapped a clean single to left, and the Baltimore Orioles beat New York, 7-1, last night. Flashing a fastball that touched 97 miles per hour, Cabrera overcame three errors behind him and cruised into the ninth inning with a chance to make history at Yankee Stadium.

BALTIMORE - Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp considers Daniel Cabrera "a cool acquaintance. " "We're not best boys," Crisp said, "but we've hung out a couple of times. " But that was before Cabrera did something not only uncool but dangerous, throwing a pitch at Dustin Pedroia's head after Crisp's fake dash toward home plate from third base provoked the Orioles starter into a run-producing balk and nearly set off a bench-clearing brawl during the Red Sox' 4-0 win last night. "The guy's an idiot," Pedroia said.

Carl Everett homered and the visiting Chicago White Sox took advantage of Texas's season-high five errors in a 7-4 victory over the fading Rangers yesterday. The White Sox won their fourth straight to move to within 7 1/2 games of the first-place Minnesota Twins in the Central Division. In the first two innings, White Sox starter Jason Grilli (1-1) allowed three hits, three walks, committed an error, and threw two wild pitches. But the Rangers were only able to come up with one run. Grilli gave up three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

BALTIMORE -- The humane approach failed the Red Sox last night. Because of an all-night flight from Texas, manager Terry Francona went to great lengths to rest his weary players. But on a night shortened by rain to six innings, a lineup missing four starters could not generate enough offense in a 3-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, who have had more than their share of sleepless nights lately. The Orioles were losers of 11 of their previous 13 games and in rope-a-dope mode as they staggered into the All-Star break, trying to keep from falling out of sight in the American League East.

NEW YORK -- The Yankees are used to blowouts at home, just not this way. After observing a pregame moment of silence in memory of Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto, New York was taken out of the game early by Daniel Cabrera and the Baltimore Orioles' bats. Cabrera pitched two-hit ball into the seventh inning, Aubrey Huff hit a grand slam, and the Orioles cooled off the Yankees with a 12-0 win last night. The loss matched the Yankees' largest margin of defeat this season and was their worst shutout loss since Oakland beat them, 12-0, Sept.

Alex Rodriguez let Gerald Laird pull away, and a short while later, the Texas Rangers got away from the New York Yankees, too. Laird outraced A-Rod in a rundown to score the go-ahead run in a three-run fifth inning, and the Rangers went on to rout the host Yankees, 14-2, yesterday. "That," Mark Teixeira said, "might have been a game-changer right there. " Teixeira had four hits, including three doubles, and three RBIs. Pinch hitter Victor Diaz hit his first career grand slam as Texas scored 10 runs in the seventh and eighth innings against Chien-Ming Wang (1-3)

Orioles 7 Yankees 1 NEW YORK -- The most astonishing thing about Daniel Cabrera's near no-hitter was the mighty lineup it came against. Cabrera got within two outs of a stunning gem against the star-studded Yankees before Robinson Cano slapped a clean single to left, and the Baltimore Orioles beat New York, 7-1, last night. Flashing a fastball that touched 97 miles per hour, Cabrera overcame three errors behind him and cruised into the ninth inning with a chance to make history at Yankee Stadium.

Hours after Rafael Palmeiro was suspended for violating baseball's steroid policy, the Chicago White Sox capped a miserable day for the Orioles by sending them to their 12th loss in 13 games and completing a four-game sweep. Mark Buehrle's streak of pitching at least six innings ended at 49 games with an ejection for hitting a batter with a pitch, but the White Sox finished off their first four-game sweep in Baltimore since 1954 with a 6-3 victory yesterday. Without Palmiero, the Orioles stranded 10 runners and completed a 1-7 homestand in which they were outscored, 52-31.

Rich Harden carried a perfect game into the eighth inning last night, finishing with a masterful two-hitter in the Athletics' 6-0 victory over the Texas Rangers in Oakland, Calif. Harden (6-4) was five outs from the 18th perfect game in major league history when Alfonso Soriano hit a clean single to center. It was the closest a big league pitcher has come to a no-hitter this season. Harden was the first to make it through seven innings, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The crowd gave him a warm standing ovation, and he quickly recovered.

BALTIMORE -- The humane approach failed the Red Sox last night. Because of an all-night flight from Texas, manager Terry Francona went to great lengths to rest his weary players. But on a night shortened by rain to six innings, a lineup missing four starters could not generate enough offense in a 3-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, who have had more than their share of sleepless nights lately. The Orioles were losers of 11 of their previous 13 games and in rope-a-dope mode as they staggered into the All-Star break, trying to keep from falling out of sight in the American League East.

Just when the slumping New York Yankees got Alex Rodriguez back, Derek Jeter went down with an injury that nearly led to a brawl with Baltimore. Adam Jones hit a three-run double during Baltimore's seven-run first inning against Mike Mussina, and the Orioles routed New York, 12-2, last night in a feisty game that included a late homer by A-Rod in his return from the disabled list. The Orioles took advantage of a two-out throwing error by Jeter in the first to build a big cushion for Daniel Cabrera (5-1)

Alex Rodriguez let Gerald Laird pull away, and a short while later, the Texas Rangers got away from the New York Yankees, too. Laird outraced A-Rod in a rundown to score the go-ahead run in a three-run fifth inning, and the Rangers went on to rout the host Yankees, 14-2, yesterday. "That," Mark Teixeira said, "might have been a game-changer right there. " Teixeira had four hits, including three doubles, and three RBIs. Pinch hitter Victor Diaz hit his first career grand slam as Texas scored 10 runs in the seventh and eighth innings against Chien-Ming Wang (1-3)

Carl Everett homered and the visiting Chicago White Sox took advantage of Texas's season-high five errors in a 7-4 victory over the fading Rangers yesterday. The White Sox won their fourth straight to move to within 7 1/2 games of the first-place Minnesota Twins in the Central Division. In the first two innings, White Sox starter Jason Grilli (1-1) allowed three hits, three walks, committed an error, and threw two wild pitches. But the Rangers were only able to come up with one run. Grilli gave up three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Jon Lieber dominated the top-scoring team in the major leagues, looking completely recovered from the elbow operation that caused him to miss last season. Lieber retired his first 11 batters, then gave up four straight hits before getting 11 more outs in a row, leading the Yankees over the Anaheim Angels, 7-4, yesterday in New York. Ruben Sierra, Hideki Matsui, and Bernie Williams hit solo homers off John Lackey, with Williams getting his first three-hit game of the season.