Mariners on Cloude Nine After Win

Dan Wilson’s two-run homer in the seventh inning broke a tie and rookie Ken Cloude and two relievers combined on a six-hitter, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees at Seattle.

The series finale drew 54,391, boosting attendance for the three-game set to a club-record 169,024.

“This was a great one for the fans,” Wilson said. “It almost felt like the playoffs out there.”

Said Cloude: “It felt like this game was so crucial. It definitely had a different feeling out there.”

Jay Buhner also homered for Seattle, which won two of three in the series. Including the 1995 playoffs, the Mariners are 17-4 at the Kingdome against the Yankees.

Chad Curtis homered and threw a runner out for the Yankees, who dropped seven games behind first-place Baltimore in the American League East. New York was zero for seven with runners in scoring position.

“We played well,” New York Manager Joe Torre said. “We just didn’t hit much.”

Cloude, 22, gave up four hits and three runs in 6 1/3 innings.

“That was just a great job by a young guy who doesn’t seem so young when he’s out there,” Wilson said.

Toronto 11, Kansas City 8--The Blue Jays were looking to the future when they acquired Jose Cruz Jr., but they haven’t had to wait for the young outfielder to make an impact. His two-run homer in the 13th inning, his second of the game, was the difference at Kansas City.

“Cruz has hit some big home runs for us,” Toronto Manager Cito Gaston said. “He has also taken some of the pressure off some of the other guys.”

Jacob Brumfield singled to open the 13th off Larry Casian (0-2) and Carlos Garcia sacrificed. Cruz, who had the first four-hit game of his career, hit his 20th homer into the left-field seats. It was the third two-homer game for Cruz.

“I was just trying to have a good level swing,” said Cruz, who came to the Blue Jays in a trade July 31 that sent pitchers Mike Timlin and Paul Spoljaric to Seattle. “I just able to get under a couple today.”

It was also the first time in his professional career he has hit home runs from both sides of the plate. His first-inning solo homer came off right-hander Ricky Bones. He is only the second Blue Jay to accomplish the feat. Roberto Alomar did it twice, in 1991 and 1995.

Cruz has eight home runs and 18 RBIs in his 24 games with the Blue Jays.

Milwaukee 6, Detroit 0--Phil Garner has had a lot of help in becoming the winningest manager in Brewer history, with Jose Mercedes the latest to contribute.

Mercedes pitched a four-hitter and the Brewers hit three solo homers to beat the Tigers at Milwaukee and give Garner his 423rd victory.

“It’s always nice to have a lot of wins, but it doesn’t happen without good, quality players,” Garner said. “It’s also a tribute to very patient ownership and my bosses. I’m grateful for that.”

Jeromy Burnitz, Mark Loretta and Jeff Cirillo hit solo homers as Garner passed Tom Trebelhorn (422-397 from 1986-1991).

Mercedes (6-7) struck out five and walked one in his second complete game this season.

Baltimore 5, Minnesota 1--Scott Kamieniecki, somewhat lost in a star-filled starting rotation, continued to draw attention, pitching seven strong innings at Baltimore to help the Orioles complete a three-game sweep of the Twins.

Kamieniecki (9-5) gave up one run, four hits and a walk. He struck out eight, matching his career high, and improved to 3-0 in five starts since July 25.

Kamieniecki, 33, got plenty of offensive support. The Orioles hit three homers off LaTroy Hawkins (4-9) and moved 39 games over .500 (83-44) for the first time since August 1979.

Geronimo Berroa had a two-run shot and Brady Anderson and Rafael Palmeiro had solo shots.

Chicago 3, Texas 1--Ozzie Guillen hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning as the White Sox won at Arlington, Texas, to end a five-game losing streak against the Rangers.

Darren Lewis singled with two outs in the seventh, and Guillen followed with his third homer of the year and 23rd in 13 seasons in the majors.

Jason Bere (2-0), making his second start since undergoing surgery on his right elbow last September, gave up four hits in 6 2/3 innings, with eight strikeouts and two walks.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

*--*

Player Team Performance Team’s Result Jose Cruz Jr. Toronto 4 for 6, two homers, 3 RBIs Win Carlos Delgado Toronto 3 for 5, 3 RBIs, 2 runs Win Brady Anderson Baltimore 2 for 4, homer Win

*--*

PITCHING

Player: S. Kamieniecki

Team: Baltimore

Performance: 7 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk

Team’s Result: Win

Player: Jose Mercedes

Team: Milwaukee

Performance: 9 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk

Team’s Result: Win

Player: Jason Bere

Team: Chicago

Performance: 6 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 2 walks

Team’s Result: Win