AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Yankees Pile It On Against the Twins, 9-2

Bernie Williams had three of New York’s season-high eight doubles and Jim Abbott got only his third victory since May 30 as the Yankees won their seventh consecutive game, 9-2, over the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis.

The only runs off Abbott (9-7) in his 5 2/3 innings came on a two-run, second-inning homer by Kent Hrbek, who earlier in the day announced he will retire after the season.

The Yankees tied their season high with 19 hits, including three apiece by Williams, Wade Boggs, Luis Polonia and Paul O’Neill, in winning their ninth consecutive road game--their longest streak since 1975.

New York, with the best record in the majors at 68-38, has gone 18-3 since the All-Star break and leads Baltimore by 10 games in the AL East.

Abbott, who has slumped with a 5.86 earned-run average in his last 12 starts, gave up six hits, walked four and struck out five against the Twins, who are 12-32 since May 20.

Kansas City 5, Oakland 2--The Royals defeated the A’s in Kansas City and matched the major leagues’ longest winning streak in two years with their 13th consecutive victory.

Felix Jose had three hits and Kevin Appier (7-6), with only one decision in his eight previous starts, pitched a four-hitter. The A’s lost their sixth in a row.

Cleveland 5, Detroit 0--Rookie Albie Lopez struck out 11 in recording his first career shutout, leading the Indians past the Tigers before 41,926, the largest crowd ever at Jacobs Field.

Lopez (1-1), a 22-year-old right-hander, gave up five hits and had a career-high 11 strikeouts in his first complete game in the majors.

Texas 4, Chicago 1--Brian Bohanon turned in his best start of the season and the Rangers stretched their lead to 4 1/2 games in the AL West with the victory at Arlington, Tex.

Rusty Greer hit a two-run homer and Jeff Frye and Juan Gonzalez had RBI singles to help the Rangers move within four games of .500.

Bohanon (2-1) gave up seven hits and struck out five in 6 1/3 innings. Tom Henke pitched the ninth for his 15th save.

Toronto 5, Boston 2--Paul Molitor scored the go-ahead run from second base on a groundout as the Blue Jays defeated the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

The bases were loaded with one out in the sixth when John Olerud hit a grounder to third baseman Carlos Rodriguez, who bobbled the ball before getting a force at second. But the relay to first was too late to double up Olerud, and Molitor scored standing up.

Todd Stottlemyre (6-7) gave up two runs on seven hits in seven innings. Joe Carter reached 100 RBIs for the sixth season in a row with a sacrifice fly.

Milwaukee 5, Baltimore 3--Jose Valentin hit a two-run homer and John Jaha had a pair of RBI doubles as the Brewers snapped a three-game losing streak with the victory at home.

Cal Eldred (11-10) won his second game in a row, giving up seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.