AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Wins Give Advantage to Yankees

David Cone, Scott Kamieniecki and John Wetteland pitched the New York Yankees into sole possession of the AL wild-card spot as they defeated the Detroit Tigers, 5-2 and 3-1, at Yankee Stadium Saturday for their first doubleheader sweep in three years.

The victories moved the Yankees 1 1/2 games ahead of the Angels in the race for the final playoff spot. New York has won six consecutive games overall and 10 in a row at home, its best stretch since a 10-game streak in 1987.

Cone (17-8) struck out 10 and allowed four hits in eight innings. Despite developing two blisters on the middle finger of his right hand, he tied Baltimore’s Mike Mussina for victories in the AL.

Kamieniecki (6-6) even outdid his Cy Young Award-winning teammate, permitting no earned runs in eight innings. He gave up singles to the first three Tigers without giving up a run and allowed only two more hits.

Wetteland pitched scoreless ninth innings in both games. He has 29 saves.

Boston 5-6, Toronto 0-8--Roger Clemens allowed four hits in six innings as the Red Sox beat the Blue Jays in the first game of a day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park. Clemens (9-5) allowed four hits in six innings, striking out five and walking one. He is 6-1 in his last 10 starts.

In the second game, Ed Sprague drove in three runs with a double and a sacrifice fly as Toronto stopped its five-game losing streak.

Chicago 14, Minnesota 4--Lance Johnson tied AL records by tripling three times and going six for six at Minneapolis as the White Sox remained perfect in eight games against the Twins.

Johnson tied several AL players with three triples in a game, the last Minnesota’s Ken Landreaux on July 3, 1980. The NL record is four by New York’s Bill Joyce on May 18, 1897.

Johnson, who drove in four runs and scored four, also matched the AL record for hits in a nine-inning game. Wilbert Robinson of Brooklyn (1892) and Rennie Stennett of Pittsburgh (1975) share the NL record of seven hits.

Baltimore 9, Milwaukee 3--Rafael Palmeiro, Chris Hoiles and Jeff Huson homered in a five-run fourth inning and Cal Ripken Jr. added a two-run shot in the ninth for the Orioles at Milwaukee.

It was the Orioles’ fourth consecutive victory and the Brewers’ 20th loss in 25 games. Palmeiro’s homer was his 39th, the most by a Baltimore player since Frank Robinson hit 49 in 1966.

Cleveland 7, Kansas City 3--Albert Belle hit his 45th and 46th homers, setting a Cleveland record for extra-base hits in a season as the Indians beat the fading Royals at Kansas City.

Belle, who has hit 15 homers his last 24 games and leads the majors, has 97 extra-base hits, one more than Hal Trosky’s total in 1936.

Dennis Martinez (11-5) allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings with four strikeouts and no walks. It was his 230th victory, moving him past Luis Tiant for second place among Latin pitchers behind Juan Marichal (243).