AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Blue Jays Better, Beat the Best, 7-5

The Toronto Blue Jays came into this season believing they were a better team than they were a year ago, when they won the East but lost the American League championship.

Despite a May slump, they still feel that way. They figured an impressive showing in their three-game series at Minneapolis would help prove it.

Derek Bell’s sacrifice fly broke a tie in the 13th inning Tuesday night in the Metrodome and the Blue Jays made it two in a row over the World Series champion Minnesota Twins, 7-5. With Oakland winning, the Twins dropped into second place in the West.

The Blue Jays have won five in a row, all in their last at-bat. The last two were in extra innings. Monday night, Devon White hit a two-run home run during the 10th to win it.

In this one, the Blue Jays spotted the Twins, who had four hits by Kirby Puckett, a 4-0 lead.

John Olerud, who drove in the Blue Jays’ first run and homered during the eighth to put them ahead, 5-4, also played a part in the winning rally.

Kelly Gruber doubled against Gary Wayne to open the 13th. Olerud sacrificed before Bell hit the sacrifice fly. Later in the inning, Pat Borders doubled and Manny Lee singled him home.

Puckett’s single was the first of three in the bottom of the eighth that enabled the Twins to tie the score and send the game into extra innings.

“We came in here hoping to show the Twins we are a better team,” Manager Cito Gaston said. “To win twice here in our last at-bats makes it special.”

Oakland 5, Boston 4--The Athletics only had five hits, but they scored four runs during the sixth inning at Oakland and took over sole possession of first place in the West.

Terry Steinbach’s triple after Mark McGwire was given an intentional walk drove in two runs in the sixth.

Willie Wilson drove in two runs with two doubles, including the final run of the sixth. The big inning helped Mike Moore improve to 7-3, but the Athletics had to use three relievers to win.

Dennis Eckersley, who gave up three runs Monday night, retired the last five batters to get his 19th save in as many opportunities.

Boston’s Jack Clark hit his third home run, but was ejected during the eighth inning for arguing a called strike.

Kansas City 2, Chicago 1--Kevin McReynolds hit the first home run against White Sox reliever Scott Radinsky in almost a year to spark the Royals at Kansas City.

It came during the eighth and brought the Royals from behind, preventing Jack McDowell from getting his eighth victory.

McDowell, who has lost three in a row after winning his first seven starts, gave up five hits in seven innings.

When he walked Gregg Jefferies to start the eighth, Radinsky replaced him. McReynolds greeted him with his eighth home run.

It was the seventh loss in eight games for the White Sox.

Mark Gubicza (6-3) gave up only four hits in eight innings, but seemed headed for a 1-0 defeat until McReynolds homered.

Texas 8, New York 2--The Rangers spotted the Yankees two runs in the first inning at Arlington, Tex., then turned to the long ball.

Juan Gonzalez’s two-run home run against Tim Leary (4-4) highlighted a four-run first inning and Dean Palmer hit a three-run home run during the fifth to open a big lead for Bobby Witt.

Witt (6-4) gave up only six hits and one earned run in eight innings.

“In the first inning, I just didn’t feel comfortable, but I just kept battling,” Witt said. “The four runs in the first really helped.”

Cleveland 4, Seattle 3--The surge of the Indians has barely been noticed in Cleveland.

Glenallen Hill hit a two-run home run during the seventh inning to give the Indians their sixth victory in seven games. But only 7,265 fans were on hand.

Seattle’s Erik Hanson had a 3-2 lead going into the seventh, but Sandy Alomar singled and Hill hit his second home run to make Hanson an eight-game loser.

Dave Otto (4-3) got the victory, but the Indians needed three relievers to hold off the Mariners. Steve Olin pitched the ninth to get his 11th save.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s two-run home run during the fourth accounted for the Seattle runs. Griffey has four of his 10 home runs and 11 RBIs in the last eight games.

Milwaukee 5, Detroit 4--The seventh inning has been lucky for the Brewers and Scott Fletcher at Milwaukee.

For the second night in a row, Fletcher got a run-scoring single with two out in the lucky inning. In this game he drove in Jim Gantner, who had doubled against Mark Leiter (3-3) with two out.

Monday night, Fletcher’s two-out single broke a 2-2 tie and the Brewers scored three more runs to put the Tigers away.

The Tigers have lost six in a row.