Yankee Streak Stopped as Pettitte Leaves Early

The New York Yankees’ nine-game winning streak ended Thursday night when the Montreal Expos took advantage of an apparent injury to pitcher Andy Pettitte and rallied for seven runs in the seventh inning for a 7-5 victory at Montreal.

Vladimir Guerrero began the Expos’ outburst with a double and capped it with a three-run double. Montreal came back against five pitchers, and made the Yankees the last team in the majors to lose an interleague game this season.

“I felt a catch in my left hip,” Pettitte said. “I couldn’t stretch it out, but I feel nothing now.”

Pettitte thought that the twinge may have come about when he ran out a sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning.

Pettitte took a 5-0 lead into the seventh. But Guerrero led off with a double and scored when Rondell White followed with a double and second baseman Chuck Knoblauch mishandled the relay for an error.

Yankee Manager Joe Torre came to the mound and, after a brief discussion with Pettitte, took out the left-hander.

Reliever Mike Stanton gave up a walk and a single that loaded the bases, and pinch-hitter Jose Vidro had a sacrifice fly that made it 5-2.

Five more runs scored before Guerrero was thrown out at third trying to stretch a double into a triple to end the inning.

Oakland 5, Seattle 2--Mike Oquist’s bid for his first career shutout was spoiled by Ken Griffey Jr.’s 26th homer, but Oquist still got his fourth consecutive victory.

Oquist had a shutout until two out in the eighth, when Griffey slammed a two-run homer to left-center at Oakland. It was the seventh homer in 10 games for Griffey.

Oquist (4-3) gave up two runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking out six and not walking a batter.

Rickey Henderson had an RBI double and stole two bases as the A’s broke a two-game losing streak and knocked the Mariners into last place in the American League West.

New York Mets 5, Florida 3--Bobby Jones won his fifth consecutive decision, Mike Piazza homered and Edgardo Alfonzo drove in the go-ahead run as the Mets beat the Marlins at Miami.

Jones (6-3) gave up three runs over seven innings. John Franco earned his 14th save.