BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Key Helps Yankees Cut Blue Jays’ Lead to Two

Jimmy Key returned to his role as New York’s stopper Thursday night, allowing three hits over eight innings as the Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox, 7-1, at New York.

The Yankees, who had lost four of their last five, pulled within two games of idle Toronto in the American League East. The White Sox, who had beaten New York in the first two games of the series, are five games in front of idle Texas in the West.

Key (16-5) struck out six and walked three. He allowed singles to Tim Raines in the third and Ozzie Guillen in the fifth. The only run came on Ron Karkovice’s 15th homer in the fifth.

Spike Owen, a late replacement at game time, had a two-run double in New York’s six-run fourth inning. Owen was added to the lineup when second baseman Pat Kelly had to be scratched due to a slightly sprained hamstring.

Cleveland 4, Minnesota 3--Wayne Kirby had three hits and drove in two runs and Carlos Baerga reached the 100-RBI mark as the Indians defeated the Twins at Minneapolis.

Kenny Lofton and Kirby started the eighth inning with doubles to break a 2-2 tie and Baerga followed with a run-scoring single off Kevin Tapani (7-14).

Tom Kramer (7-3) pitched one inning of relief and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. Jerry DiPoto allowed one run in the ninth and earned his fifth save.

Seattle 8, Milwaukee 1--Chris Bosio beat his former team for the first time as the Mariners pounded the Brewers at Seattle.

Bret Boone and Greg Litton each hit two-run homers and Jay Buhner added two doubles and two RBIs to help the Mariners climb above the .500 mark for the first time since July 15.

Bosio (8-7) pitched seven innings, allowing five hits with six strikeouts.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Florida 8, San Diego 2--Chuck Carr had four hits and stole three bases as the Marlins beat the Padres at Miami.

Carr, who leads the league with 43 steals, moved past Pat Kelly into second place for the most steals by a player on an expansion team. Tommy Harper had 73 with the Seattle Pilots in 1969.

New York 8, Chicago 3--Rookie Bobby Jones allowed six hits in 7 1/3 innings and Todd Hundley hit his first career grand slam as the Mets beat the Cubs at Chicago.

The Cubs lost for the ninth time in 12 games to fall six games below .500 for the first time this year.

Hundley, six for his last 27, drove a 2-and-1 pitch off Jose Guzman with two out in the third inning for his 10th homer of the year and first grand slam.