Jeter, Key Too Much For Orioles

Rookie Derek Jeter’s two-run home run broke an eighth-inning tie and Jimmy Key won his fourth consecutive decision as the New York Yankees beat the Orioles, 4-2, Thursday night at Baltimore.

Tino Martinez also homered for the Yankees, who increased their lead over second-place Baltimore in the East to a season-high seven games.

Key gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings. He struck out two and walked three to remain unbeaten in five starts since June 5.

He raised his record to 6-6 and lowered his earned-run average to 4.84. He appears to have returned to the form he showed two years ago when he went 17-4.

After Key departed, Mariano Rivera worked the eighth and John Wetteland struck out the side in the ninth for his 30th save, tops in the majors. The right-hander has saves in each of his last 21 appearances, a major league record, and has converted his last 24 save opportunities.

Darryl Strawberry, playing his second game this season for the Yankees, was hitless in three at-bats.

Toronto 6, Milwaukee 3--Juan Guzman gave up three hits over seven innings and Charlie O’Brien hit two home runs for the Blue Jays at Milwaukee.

Guzman (8-6), who walked two and struck out five, took a one-hitter into the seventh before giving up Jose Valentin’s two-out double and Jeff Cirillo’s two-run homer.

Milwaukee’s 20-year-old rookie, Jeff D’Amico, who beat the Blue Jays in his major league debut on June 28, gave up four runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Kansas City 3, Chicago 2--Chris Haney won his fourth start in a row as the Royals beat the White Sox, who played without Frank Thomas, at Kansas City.

Thomas, leading the League with 85 runs batted in, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday--the first time he’s been on the DL since coming into the league in 1990. He has a stress fracture in his left foot.

Haney (8-6), who started the season 0-4, gave up eight hits and struck out seven.

Boston 11, Detroit 4--Roger Clemens gave up three hits over seven innings for his first victory in nine starts and Reggie Jefferson hit two of the Red Sox’s five home runs at Detroit.

Jose Canseco hit a three-run homer and John Valentin and Mike Stanley also homered for the Red Sox, who beat the Tigers for the sixth time in seven games this season.

Oakland 8, Texas 3--Mark McGwire hit his 29th homer and Geronimo Berroa and Terry Steinbach each had two runs batted in for the Athletics at Oakland.

The A’s, who have won nine of 12, have scored 162 runs in their last 22 games, or 7.4 runs a game.

Oakland sent 10 men to the plate while scoring four runs in the fifth inning. Steinbach had a two-run single, Mike Bordick had an RBI single and Damon Mashore walked with the bases loaded.

The Rangers have lost five of seven.

McGwire, who has homered in three consecutive games, has averaged a homer every 7.41 at-bats this season.

Cleveland 11, Minnesota 7--Manny Ramirez hit a grand slam and drove in five runs in the Indians victory over the Twins at Minneapolis.

Albert Belle and Jim Thome also homered for the Indians, who took a 7-0 lead after two innings.

Rich Becker hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs for the Twins.