Orioles Leave Pettitte, Yankees Reeling

Baltimore isn’t just knocking the Yankees out of contention for the American League East title, the Orioles are knocking them off the field too.

Andy Pettitte was sent to a hospital by Cal Ripken’s first-inning liner, and the Orioles pounded Hideki Irabu to win the longest nine-inning game in major league history, 13-9, Friday night at New York.

Ripken’s liner hit Pettitte’s left thumb, face and lip and cut his nose two outs into the game.

“It was scary,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said. “Once you go out there and see that blood, then you’re afraid to look.”

Because the game stretched on for 4 hours 22 minutes, Pettitte was able to go a hospital for treatment and return by the fifth inning.

“It’s a good thing I got my hand up in time or I think it would have hit me square in the nose or knocked my teeth out,” Pettitte said. “I remember seeing the ball at the last second. I knew I couldn’t get my glove hand up so I tried to cover my face.”

Baltimore, 6-0 against the Yankees this season after going 4-14 last year, opened an 8 1/2-game lead over New York, its largest lead in the AL East since June 22.

Jimmy Key (15-8), who beat Atlanta in Game 6 and then signed with Baltimore, gave up four runs and eight hits in five innings in his first outing at Yankee Stadium since leaving the Yankees.

Irabu (4-4), dropped from the starting rotation following Monday’s loss at Philadelphia, was booed and even had a tennis ball thrown at him from the upper deck.

Irabu, whose earned-run average rose to 7.98, gave up a career-high nine runs--six earned--in 5 1/3 innings. He also walked three, threw two wild pitches, made a throwing error and forgot to back up third base on one play.

Seattle 10, Minnesota 6--Ken Griffey Jr. tied a career high with his 49th home run as the Mariners won at Minnesota.

Griffey, who also hit 49 homers last year, needs 13 in the final 21 games to break Roger Maris’ 36-year-old record of 61.

Griffey, who hit two homers Thursday night, has six in his last four games and eight in his last 11.

Jamie Moyer (15-4) set a career high for victories, giving upfour runs on eight hits in six innings to win his fourth consecutive decision.

Cleveland 11, Chicago 1--Albert Belle, who angered Cleveland fans by leaving the Indians to sign a $55-million, five-year contract with the Chicago White Sox, was hitless in three at-bats as the Indians defeated won at Cleveland.

Sandy Alomar drove in four runs and Charles Nagy (14-9) gave up one run and six hits in eight innings.

Milwaukee 7, Boston 1--Cal Eldred got his first victory in five weeks and the Brewers scored six runs in the first two innings at Boston to extend the Red Sox’s losing streak to seven.

Eldred (12-12) was 0-2 in six starts since his last victory Aug. 1.

But against Boston, he struck out four in seven innings and walked none for only the second time in 30 starts.

Oakland 9, Kansas City 6--Brian Lesher, breaking out of a 1-for-33 skid, had three hits and three runs batted in as the Athletics beat the Royals at Kansas City to end a seven-game road losing streak.

Lesher, recalled from triple-A Edmonton on Aug. 1, hit a two-run homer in the third inning and added a tiebreaking single in the sixth.

Mike Oquist (3-5) went 6 1/3 innings for his first victory in three decisions since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 20.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Sandy Alomar Cleveland 3 for 5, 4 RBIs Win Carlos Delgado Toronto 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 RBIs Win Brian Lesher Oakland 3 for 4, HR, 3 RBIs Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Charles Nagy Cleveland 8 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, 2 strikeouts Win J. Thompson Detroit 9 innings, 5 hits, 1 run Win Jamie Moyer Seattle 6 innings, 4 runs, 8 hits, 4 strikeouts Win

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