AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Yankees Climb Back Into First-Place Tie

The New York Yankees, still buzzing a day after Jim Abbott’s no-hitter, scored four runs during the first inning and beat the Cleveland Indians, 7-2, Sunday at New York.

The Yankees pulled into a tie with Toronto, a 5-1 loser to the Angels, for first place in the American League East.

“It seemed like we had a little emotional carry-over today,” Yankee Manager Buck Showalter said.

New York’s Mike Stanley hit his 25th home, a two-run shot in the first inning. Randy Velarde’s two-run homer in the second gave the Yankees a 6-1 lead.

Bob Wickman (11-4) entered the game with two out in the fifth, the bases loaded and New York ahead, 6-2. He struck out Albert Belle, then went on to shut out the Indians on one hit for three more innings. Lee Smith, acquired Tuesday in a trade with St. Louis, made his first appearance for the Yankees and got the last two outs.

Baltimore 9, Oakland 2--Brady Anderson and Chris Hoiles hit home runs at Oakland as the Orioles won their seventh in a row.

The victory moved the Orioles within 2 1/2 games of first-place Toronto and New York.

Mike Mussina (14-5) gave up two runs and five hits in eight innings to hand the A’s their 15th loss in 16 games.

Anderson hit his 13th homer in the first inning against Bob Welch (9-8). Hoiles led off the second inning with his 22nd homer.

Kansas City 5, Boston 2--Gary Gaetti hit the first grand slam surrendered by Roger Clemens as the Royals completed a three-game sweep at Boston.

The Royals, who won all six of their games at Boston this season, scored five runs during the sixth. Brent Mayne walked with the bases loaded to tie the score, 1-1, and Gaetti followed with his seventh grand slam.

Clemens (10-12) fell two games below .500 for the first time since June 1987, when he was 4-6. He has lost four consecutive decisions, six of his last seven, and is 0-4 with a 7.98 earned-run average in his last five starts at Fenway Park.

Tom Gordon (9-6), who had lost his three previous starts, gave up five hits in seven innings for the Royals. The only run he gave up was scored on a wild pitch in the fourth inning.

Chicago 5, Detroit 3--Frank Thomas and George Bell hit home runs at Detroit as the White Sox completed a three-game sweep.

Thomas and Bell hit five homers and drove in 16 runs during the series. Thomas became the first White Sox player to hit 40 home runs in a season when he homered in the first inning against Mike Moore (11-8).

The first-place White Sox have won eight of nine, while the Tigers have lost five in a row to fall out of the AL East race.

Wilson Alvarez (11-8) gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings for his third victory in a row. Roberto Hernandez pitched one inning for his 33rd save.

Seattle 3, Milwaukee 2--Randy Johnson struck out 13 and earned his 15th victory at Seattle.

Johnson (15-8) leads the major leagues with 254 strikeouts.

Minnesota 8, Texas 3--Center fielder Shane Mack sparked two rallies with doubles at Minneapolis and made a sensational catch to take a fifth-inning homer from Rob Ducey.

Kenny Rogers (14-8) had his six-start winning streak ended.