Latest Yankee Win Has Playoff Quality

With little to play for but records, the New York Yankees and their fans showed Thursday night they’re ready for the playoffs to start--right now.

The Yankees, on pace to smash the record for wins in a season, responded with yet another victory, and this one over a quality team.

Orlando Hernandez struck out 13 and gave up only two hits in 8 1/3 innings as the Yankees (88-29) extended their winning streak to eight games with a 2-0 victory over the Texas Rangers before 53,835 at Yankee Stadium.

“I think everyone has got caught up in what’s going on here,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said.

Boston 8, Minnesota 7--Since moving to the cleanup spot in late July, cleaning up is exactly what Nomar Garciaparra has done.

Garciaparra went three for four with a home run and the game-winning double to lead the Red Sox at Boston.

Garciaparra has 95 RBIs, 26 of them in 19 games since moving to fourth in the lineup.

Baltimore 7, Cleveland 4--After starting a game-tying rally with a single in the eighth inning, Rafael Palmeiro hit a three-run homer in the top of the 12th to keep the Orioles eight games out of the wild-card spot.

Eric Davis extended his hitting streak to 28 games with a double in the sixth inning.

Kansas City 6, Tampa Bay 4--After stranding 14 runners the previous two games, Dean Palmer was due.

He broke out of his slump with a two-run homer in the 10th inning to give the Royals a victory at Kansas City.

In his previous eight at-bats, Palmer had grounded into two double plays and struck out five times.