AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Key to Yankee Pitching Halts Slide, 9-2

Their American League East lead in jeopardy after a four-game losing streak, winning only twice in their last 12 games, the New York Yankees turned to Jimmy Key for help.

He didn’t let them down.

Key (9-1) won his eighth game in a row, pitching New York to a 9-2 victory Saturday at Toronto. He is 15-3 in decisions after a Yankee loss, 4-0 this season, and is off to the best start by a New York pitcher since Tommy John went 9-1 to begin the 1979 season.

“I don’t think I pitch any differently after a win or a loss,” Key said. “I don’t look at it as any more important than any other game. Maybe that’s why I’ve been successful.”

Key gave up six hits in 5 2/3 innings against his former team. He struck out five.

Bob Wickman relieved and went 3 1/3 innings for his third save.

Wade Boggs hit a three-run homer that capped a six-run sixth inning. Paul O’Neill and Danny Tartabull also homered.

O’Neill went three for five, increasing his average to .425. Pat Kelly drove in three runs and Don Mattingly had his second three-hit game in a row.

The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the second inning against Dave Stewart (4-5) on Luis Polonia’s RBI grounder, then blew open the game in the sixth.

Tartabull led off with a homer, his 11th, and Kelly had a two-run single before Boggs hit a three-run homer, his eighth of the season, all since May 15.

Baltimore 5, Boston 2--Mike Mussina shut out the Red Sox for 8 2/3 innings at Boston, retiring 19 of the next 20 after giving up two hits to open the second inning.

One day after the Red Sox got 17 hits in a 10-7 loss, Mussina (9-3) silenced Boston’s batters until Mo Vaughn broke up the shutout with a two-run double in the ninth.

The victory moved the Orioles into second place in the AL East, one game ahead of the Red Sox, who have lost eight of their last nine games. Baltimore has won five of six.

Minnesota 6, Chicago 0--Kevin Tapani won his seventh game in a row, giving up six hits and striking out four at Minneapolis.

Tapani (8-2) got ample support from Jeff Reboulet, who had three hits, including a bases-loaded double. The Twins scored all of their runs with two out.

Chicago starter Alex Fernandez (5-7) gave up six runs on nine hits in six innings.

Cleveland 5, Milwaukee 2--Sandy Alomar Jr. hit a three-run homer and Jason Grimsley pitched a five-hitter for his first victory of the season as the Indians won at Milwaukee.

Alomar’s 420-foot shot in the third inning and Jim Thome’s 435-foot homer in the seventh were two of only four hits the Indians managed against Cal Eldred (6-7), who walked five and struck out a season-high 10 in eight innings.

Kansas City 4, Texas 3--Greg Gagne broke a tie with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly, and the Royals ended a three-game losing streak while breaking the Rangers’ four-game winning streak.

Will Clark’s three-run homer in the fifth inning gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead at Arlington, Tex., but Kansas City tied the score in the eighth when reliever Jay Howell threw away a sacrifice bunt, Gary Gaetti scoring.

After an intentional walk to Felix Jose, Gagne drove in Mike Macfarlane with a fly to right.

Seattle 6, Oakland 3--Dan Wilson hit his first major league home run in the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie and Mike Blowers hit a two-run shot in the eighth to give the Mariners some breathing room in their victory at Seattle.

All of the Mariner runs were scored on homers, including a solo shot by Ken Griffey Jr. in the fourth inning, his 25th homer of the season. Tino Martinez also homered for Seattle.