Relievers Give Yankees a Split

The big series between the Indians and Yankees confirmed two things: They could meet in the playoffs, and Albert Belle has few fans in New York.

The Yankees managed a split of the four-game set between AL divisional leaders Sunday when Andy Pettitte pitched five innings for his 11th victory and Tino Martinez drove in three runs in New York’s 5-4 victory over Cleveland.

“The baseball part of it I enjoyed,” Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove said. “The games were good, clean games. Any time you come in and get a split against a team this good you have to be happy.”

Belle’s presence may have helped to bring out more than 150,000 fans for the series, the Yankees’ highest total in nearly three years. The crowds certainly let Belle know how they felt, booing his every move over the weekend.

Pettitte (11-3) joined Cleveland’s Charles Nagy as the AL’s only 11-game winners. Bothered by tightness in his left arm early, he gave up six hits and three runs. However, he got superb relief help from Mariano Rivera and John Wetteland to close out the Indians.

“Pettitte was struggling right from the get go,” New York Manager Joe Torre said. “We almost took him out after the first inning. He struggled and didn’t have his best stuff, but he fought his way through it.”

After Cleveland pulled to 5-4 in the eighth on Omar Vizquel’s run-scoring single, Wetteland came on with runners at first and second, and struck out Julio Franco to end the inning. Wetteland earned his 18th save.

“The bullpen did a terrific job,” Pettitte said. “They have been pitching unbelievably, and I’ve been getting good run support.”

Martinez helped the Yankees take a 5-0 lead against Dennis Martinez (8-4) with a two-run single in the first and a run-scoring single in the third. Bernie Williams went four for five and drove in a run.

Oakland 10, Milwaukee 9--Jason Giambi, Mark McGwire and Phil Plantier drove in runs in the top of the ninth inning as the Athletics rallied for the victory at Milwaukee.

Milwaukee closer Mike Fetters (1-1) started the ninth with an 8-7 lead before giving up consecutive singles to Jose Herrera and pinch-hitter Terry Steinbach.

Giambi followed with a grounder to second that Fernando Vina could not handle, and Herrera scored the tying run.

McGwire doubled home pinch-runner Tony Batista and Plantier added a run-scoring single off Fetters, who blew his second save in 13 opportunities. Pinch-runner Torey Lovullo was thrown out at the plate by right fielder Dave Nilsson on Plantier’s hit.

Boston 10, Texas 9--Reggie Jefferson hit a three-run homer with no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, rallying the Red Sox at Boston.

Boston trailed, 9-3, in the seventh before beginning its comeback. Mo Vaughn and Jose Canseco, who each had four hits, started the inning with singles off Mike Henneman (0-5). The runners advanced on a wild pitch, and Jefferson followed with his sixth home run of the season.

It was Henneman’s fifth blown save in 23 chances. Joe Hudson (2-2) retired six of eight batters, and pitched a perfect ninth.

Canseco hit his 21st homer, doubled and drove in four runs. Vaughn, who has reached base in eight consecutive plate appearances, went four for four.

Minnesota 4, Detroit 1--Rick Aguilera won his first game as a starter since 1989, pitching seven strong innings as the Twins defeated the Tigers at Minneapolis.

Aguilera (1-1), the Twins’ lifetime saves leader, had not gotten past the third inning in two starts and entered the game with a 19.50 earned-run average. But he gave up only four hits, including Chad Curtis’ home run in the third, struck out seven and walked one.

The victory was Aguilera’s first as a starter since Sept. 26, 1989, two months after he was traded by the New York Mets to the Twins in a deal for Frank Viola.

Trailing, 1-0, Minnesota scored three times in the third against Felipe Lira (3-7). Chuck Knoblauch walked, Rich Becker doubled and Paul Molitor beat out an infield single, scoring a run. Greg Myers had a sacrifice fly and Marty Cordova hit a run-scoring single.

Seattle 7, Chicago 6--Edgar Martinez doubled twice and drove in four runs, sending the Mariners past the White Sox at Seattle.

Martinez, who leads the majors with 36 doubles, highlighted a six-run fourth inning with his three-run double, putting the Mariners ahead, 7-4.

For the second day in a row, Chicago’s Tony Phillips was ejected in the ninth inning for arguing a called third strike. After being ejected, Phillips had to be held back by Manager Terry Bevington and other teammates as he approached home plate umpire Al Clark.

Baltimore 13, Kansas City 5--Brady Anderson hit two home runs, including a near-record leadoff homer, and drove in five runs.

Anderson, who also hit a two-run single and has 11 runs batted in during his last six games, reached Tim Belcher for his eighth leadoff homer, putting him one short of the single-season record Rickey Henderson set in 1986.

He added a two-run shot to cap an eight-run eighth inning, upping his season total to a career-best 24. Anderson hit four home runs in the four-game series.

Bobby Bonilla and B.J. Surhoff hit two-run singles in the eighth and Gregg Zaun, who was three for five, added a two-run triple. A moment later Anderson unloaded his second homer of the night.