CHICAGO — Awaiting word on his punishment from the commissioner's office for using a corked bat, Sammy Sosa went 1-for-4 and struck out three times Wednesday night as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2.

Seventy-six of Sosa's bats confiscated Tuesday night were X-rayed and no foreign substance was discovered, and the Cubs star is sticking to his story — he mistakenly grabbed a corked batting practice bat that shattered in the first inning Tuesday.

Many of the announced crowd of 33,317 gave him a standing ovation when he came to the plate in the first before striking out. Only a few scattered boos could be heard.

Victor Zambrano (2-3) allowed one run and three hits in seven innings and struck out eight. Shawn Estes (5-5) gave up five runs and eight hits in seven innings.

Other interleague games:

REDS 6, YANKEES 2: In Cincinnati, Ken Griffey Jr. hit one of Cincinnati's four homers off Mike Mussina, connecting despite an injured arm.

Griffey strained his right biceps on a swing against Mussina in the fifth inning, but stayed in the game and hit a solo homer on the next pitch for a 4-2 lead.

Aaron Boone, Sean Casey and Jason LaRue also homered off Mussina (7-4).

Paul Wilson (3-4) allowed seven hits in seven innings, including Jason Giambi's two-run homer.

BRAVES 5, RANGERS 2: In Atlanta, Greg Maddux (5-5) allowed two runs and nine hits in eight innings, singled home a run and made a stellar diving stop and throw on a slow roller by leadoff hitter Michael Young.

Gary Sheffield hit a two-run homer off John Thomson (3-7) as Atlanta sent the Rangers to their fifth straight loss.

RED SOX 11, PIRATES 4

RED SOX 8, PIRATES 3: In Pittsburgh, Trot Nixon homered in both games of the doubleheader as Boston swept.

In the opener, Byung-Hyun Kim (1-0) allowed one run and five hits over seven innings in his first start with Boston. Derek Lowe (5-3) allowed two runs — one earned — and five hits over seven innings to beat Jeff D'Amico (4-6) in the second game.

Boston moved back into first place in the AL East for the first time since May 29, a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees.

Manny Ramirez went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs as Boston stopped a season-high five game losing streak in the opener. Kris Benson (5-6) gave up eight runs and 12 hits — both season highs — in 6 1-3 innings.

ANGELS 11, EXPOS 2: In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Garret Anderson homered three times and Jeff DaVanon had his third straight multihomer game, who set a club record with seven homers in the game and matched a record for AL teams with 13 homers in two games, set by the Yankees in a doubleheader on June 28, 1939.

The Angels have won four straight to move two games over .500 for the second time this season. The Expos have lost five in a row and eight of nine.

Jarrod Washburn (6-5) allowed one run and five hits in six innings. Sun-Woo Kim (0-1) gave up six runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings.

ATHLETICS 6, MARLINS 5: In Miami, Scott Hatteberg hit tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth off Tim Spooneybarger (1-2).

After losing 13-2 on Tuesday night, the A's took a 5-1 lead behind Tim Hudson. But his throwing error in the seventh helped Florida tie it.

Chad Bradford (4-3) escaping a jam in the seventh after relieving with runners at the corners and the score 5-all. Keith Foulke pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save.

ASTROS 6, ORIOLES 4: In Houston, Wade Miller (4-6) allowed three runs and four hits over seven innings as Houston rallied from a 3-2 deficit.

Houston scored three runs in the seventh on an RBI double by Craig Biggio, a run-scoring single by pinch-hitter Gregg Zaun and a wild pitch by B.J. Ryan, who had replaced starter Pat Hentgen (1-3) after Biggio's double.

MARINERS 7, PHILLIES 2: In Philadelphia, John Olerud doubled twice and drove in four runs to back Gil Meche (8-2), who allowed two runs, five hits and four walks in six innings. Four relievers held the Phillies hitless over the last three innings.Ichiro Suzuki went 4-for-5 and Bret Boone extended his hitting streak to 10 games for the Mariners (39-18), who have the best record in the major leagues. Seattle is on its longest winning streak since taking 10 straight from April 8-17 last year.

Vicente Padilla (4-7) gave up all seven runs and 10 hits in six-plus innings.

CARDINALS 8, BLUE JAYS 5: In St. Louis, Miguel Cairo snapped an 0-for-18 slump with three hits as St. Louis won its third straight, improving to 5-4 on a 13-game homestand.

Edgar Renteria had a two-run double and slow-footed Tino Martinez and Mike Matheny had back-to-back triples in the sixth to chase Cory Lidle (8-4). who allowed eight runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings.

Jason Simontacchi (3-3) gave up five runs on 10 hits in five innings. Carlos Delgado hit his 17th homer, tying Juan Gonzalez and Alfonso Soriano for the AL lead.

ROYALS 2, DODGERS 1: In Los Angeles, rookie Kyle Snyder combined on a three-hitter for his first major league victory, and Carlos Beltran and Angel Berroa homered as the Kansas City Royals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1.

DIAMONDBACKS 8, WHITE SOX 6: In Phoenix , Shea Hillenbrand hit his first National League home run and doubled twice to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago White Sox 8-6.

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GIANTS 4, TWINS 3: In San Francisco, Barry Bonds singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 4-3 victory against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

TIGERS 5, PADRES 3: The Tigers beat the Padres 5-3 as pitcher Steve Avery had a pinch-hit single and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning.

INDIANS AT ROCKIES (delayed)

BREWERS AT METS: Rained out

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