AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Yankees Win Sixth in a Row

A blown four-run lead, a last-minute change of starting pitchers and even the added distraction of Darryl Strawberry’s contract status couldn’t derail the New York Yankees.

They won their sixth consecutive game Monday night, tying their longest victory streak of the season by defeating Texas, 5-4, on Mike Stanley’s bases-loaded single to the center-field wall with one out in the ninth at Yankee Stadium.

The victory moved New York into a second-place tie in the AL East--the first time they have been there since May 29.

“Everybody’s upbeat right now, but we’re in a race and not a two-game series,” said Don Mattingly, who was two for two with a home run and two sacrifice flies. “This doesn’t mean anything except we’re back in the race. We know where we want to go and we’re not there yet.”

Dion James, who was four for five, opened the ninth with a single off Matt Whiteside (2-3). After singles by Mattingly and Bernie Williams, Stanley hit the ball well past a drawn-in outfield for the winning run, giving him an .800 average and 10 RBIs in five bases-loaded situations this year.

Emergency starter Sterling Hitchcock kept Texas scoreless through seven innings, but Will Clark hit a two-run double and Mickey Tettleton had a two-run home run to tie the score, 4-4.

Hitchcock got the call after Melido Perez, who was supposed to be activated from the disabled list, had lingering stiffness in his right shoulder during warm-ups.

Boston 4, Minnesota 1--Tim Wakefield won his sixth consecutive start and Rick Aguilera earned his second save against his former team as the Red Sox won at Boston.

Wakefield (10-1), signed as a free agent April 27, struck out seven, walked one and gave up seven hits in 7 1/3 innings. Aguilera got his 18th save, including six with Boston.

Wakefield’s ERA inched up to 1.63 from a major league-leading 1.61. He left the game with runners at first and second in the eighth. Stan Belinda got the second out, then walked Scott Stahoviak before Aguilera got the third out on Matt Merullo’s fly to deep right field.

Milwaukee 6, Seattle 4--Jose Valentin hit a home run and Fernando Vina had two triples as the Brewers overcame Edgar Martinez and the Mariners at Seattle.

Martinez, the major leagues’ leading hitter at .366, homered twice and drove in three runs. The Mariners left 14 runners on base.

Ricky Bones (6-7) went five innings and improved his career record to 3-0 against Seattle.