AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Blue Jays Beat Indians, Set Attendance Record

Kelly Gruber said the Toronto Blue Jays would not fold, that they would keep winning.

The third baseman did his part Sunday, and the Blue Jays took over first place in the American League East.

After hitting his 30th home run in the third inning, Gruber hit a sacrifice fly to tie the Cleveland Indians, 4-4, in the ninth. The Blue Jays, who had lost five extra-inning games at home this season, won it in the 10th, 5-4, on Mookie Wilson’s single with the bases loaded. The Red Sox lost at New York, so, with nine games remaining, the Blue Jays have a one-game lead.

The Indians had won six in a row and were going for their first sweep in Toronto. Felix Fermin singled in the go-ahead run in the sixth.

They brought in bullpen ace Doug Jones, who had saved five games last week. But, instead of picking up his 41st save, he blew his seventh save opportunity in 47 chances.

Mark Whiten opened the ninth inning with a single and went to third on a one-out single by Tony Fernandez. Gruber’s fly sent the game into extra innings.

The Blue Jays, who play their last nine games on the road--three in Boston--drew 49,901 and set a major league attendance record of 3,885,284. Their last 58 games at home were sold out.

“I’m sure glad we’ve seen the last of these guys,” Wilson said after lofting a hit over the drawn-in infield. “Let the Red Sox deal with those dudes. (Cleveland has) got power and speed and, if the pitchers throw anything like they did against us, they’ll have their hands full.”

The Indians have won nine of last 11 and play at Boston Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

New York 5, Boston 4--Tom Bolton, moved up a day in the rotation when Roger Clemens was unable to pitch at New York, didn’t make it through the second inning.

Boston’s rally from a 4-1 deficit fell short. Wade Boggs was hitless in five at-bats and is two for his last 20. In the ninth, with the potential tying run on first he grounded out to end the game.

Clemens (20-6) warmed up Sunday and had to quit because of a sore shoulder.

Detroit 6, Oakland 0--Cecil Fielder and Jack Morris postponed the A’s victory party at Oakland.

Fielder hit his 48th homer and second grand slam of the season and Morris pitched a four-hitter.

Chicago 2, Seattle 1--Rookie Frank Thomas homered to break an eighth-inning tie and the White Sox stayed in the AL West race for at least another day by defeating the Mariners at Seattle.

Chicago’s Alex Fernandez (5-3) gave up five singles in eight innings and Bobby Thigpen earned his 53rd save.

Minnesota 6, Texas 4--Gary Gaetti’s first-inning grand slam at Minneapolis was his 200th home run and came off Charlie Hough.

Rafael Palmeiro was three for four and trails George Brett in the batting race, .332 to .326.

Baltimore 2, Milwaukee 1--Bob Melvin hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th at Baltimore to give the Orioles their fifth victory in a row.