AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Blue Jays Lose Despite Carter’s Three Homers

Joe Carter used one word to describe the fifth three-homer game of his career.

“Bittersweet,” Carter said Monday night after hitting his 25th, 26th and 27th home runs during the Toronto Blue Jays’ 9-8 loss to the Cleveland Indians at Toronto.

The loss, coupled with the Yankees’ 6-5 victory over the White Sox, left New York and Toronto tied for first place in the American League East.

Carter was tied with Lou Gehrig for the American League record before homering twice against Indian starter Albie Lopez and once against Jeremy Hernandez (4-2).

Johnny Mize holds the major league record with six three-homer games.

“I was aware of the record,” Carter said. “I’ve been aware of it since 1989 when I had my last three-homer game against the Texas Rangers. But I’d trade this one in for a win.”

The three homers went for naught as Sandy Alomar hit a two-run single against loser Mark Eichhorn (2-1) for a 9-7 Indian lead in the eighth.

Albert Belle of the Indians hit his 33rd homer and drove in three runs. He is only the fourth player in Indian history to reach the 30-homer, 100-RBI plateau in consecutive seasons.

New York 6, Chicago 5--Pitcher Scott Radinsky’s throwing error in the top of the 10th inning allowed two runs to score, helping the Yankees to the victory at Chicago.

Bernie Williams, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 21 games, singled to open the 10th. Mike Gallego walked one out later and Pat Kelly then dribbled a bouncer toward the mound. Radinsky threw wild past first, allowing Williams and Gallego to score.

Kelly went all the way to third and scored on Wade Boggs’ single. The last run proved to be crucial as Steve Farr allowed two solo homers in the bottom of the 10th.

The game was delayed by rain for 1:57 in the bottom of the second inning and for 53 minutes in the top of the 10th.

Minnesota 3, Kansas City 2--Kirby Puckett’s 10th-inning sacrifice fly at Kansas City ended the Twins’ six-game losing streak.

Puckett drove in the winning run against Jeff Montgomery (3-4), the American League save leader who entered in the 10th.

Larry Casian (4-1) pitched 2 2/3 innings for the victory. Paul Willis got his third save, striking out Gary Gaetti for the final out with runners at first and second.

Texas 13, Baltimore 6--Dean Palmer and Mario Diaz of the Rangers each homered and drove in four runs at Baltimore.

Palmer is 10 for 21 with four homers and 12 runs batted in in his last five games. With three homers and nine runs RBIs in the four-game series, he became the first Oriole opponent to hit six homers in Baltimore in one season.