AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Yankees Turn Misplay Into Victory

The New York Yankees got a big break Friday night and used it to stay in the thick of the wild-card playoff race.

New York turned a misplayed grounder into their first ninth-inning comeback of the season when Pat Kelly’s two-run homer capped a four-run rally for a 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays at Toronto.

The Yankees cut their magic number for clinching a playoff spot to two over the Angels. New York is one game ahead in the wild-card standings.

The Yankees had been shut out on five hits by Juan Guzman and Tony Castillo before the comeback began when Don Mattingly singled and Jim Leyritz walked with no outs. Randy Velarde followed with what looked like a routine double-play grounder, but it skipped off Gonzalez’s glove, allowing one run to score.

After pinch-hitter Mike Stanley’s sacrifice fly made it 3-2, Kelly connected off Castillo (1-5).

Rookie Andy Pettitte (12-9) won for the sixth time in his last seven starts and tied the Dodgers’ Hideo Nomo for most wins in the majors by a rookie. John Wetteland earned his 31st save.

Cleveland 9, Kansas City 2--Paul Sorrento hit two of the Indians’ three home runs, and Orel Hershiser (16-6) was sharp in his last tuneup for the playoffs in a rout at Cleveland.

Chicago 4, Minnesota 3--Pinch-hitter Chris Snopek hit a run-scoring single with one out in the ninth inning to score Lance Johnson in a victory at Chicago.

Boston 11, Milwaukee 9--John Valentin drove in four runs and Bill Haselman knocked in three as the Red Sox outscored the Brewers at Milwaukee.

Baltimore 6, Detroit 0--Kevin Brown (10-9) gave up five hits in the Orioles’ third consecutive shutout and Bobby Bonilla drove in three runs in a rout of the Tigers at Baltimore.