Wells, Yankees Still Doing Well

David Wells ended his seven days in the spotlight with a bad case of nerves, an impressive, if not perfect performance and another win for the streaking Yankees.

“Life goes on,” he said. “I’ve had my glory for a week now. It’s time to get back to basics.”

A first-inning popup that shortstop Derek Jeter lost in the sun for a single left Wells three outs short of the major-league record of 41 consecutive retired batters, but the Yankees easily defeated the Boston Red Sox, 12-3, Saturday at Boston.

Unlike in his perfect game last Sunday when New York beat Minnesota, 4-0, Wells got plenty of hitting help. Chuck Knoblauch hit a grand slam and Scott Brosius had three RBIs as the Yankees took an 8-0 lead in the fourth.

“That’s how it’s been all year. We haven’t had to rely on one particular thing,” Brosius said after New York’s 31st victory in 37 games. “There’s a confidence on this team.”

Wells (6-1) had only one bad inning in seven and won his sixth consecutive decision as New York regained its five-game lead in the AL East over Boston, which beat the Yankees, 5-4, Friday night. The teams are in a 10-day stretch in which they face each other seven times.

Toronto 7, Cleveland 2--Mike Stanley homered twice and Roger Clemens bounced back from one of the worst starts of his career as the Blue Jays won at Cleveland.

Clemens (5-5) gave up three hits in eight innings. After giving up nine earned runs for the first time in seven years in his last start against Seattle, Clemens equaled his season high with nine strikeouts while allowing two runs.

Chicago 7, Detroit 1--Hours after the White Sox fired their pitching coach and batting instructor, Mike Sirotka pitched a four-hitter at Chicago.

It was only the second victory in seven games for the White Sox, who replaced pitching coach Mike Pazik with Nardi Contreras and batting instructor Ron Jackson with Von Joshua.

Sirotka (6-4) got his third complete game in 10 starts this season, striking out six and walking two.

Baltimore 9, Oakland 1--Doug Drabek’s pitching and Jeffrey Hammonds’ first career grand slam put a stop to the Orioles’ longest losing streak in a decade.

Drabek pitched a four-hitter at Oakland in his first complete game in two years, and the Orioles ended a nine-game losing streak, their longest since 1988’s 0-21 start.

A frightening outfield collision with left fielder Rickey Henderson left Oakland’s Jason McDonald with a concussion. He was taken to Highland Hospital and X-rays of his head and neck were negative, but McDonald was expected to spend the night in the hospital.

Tampa Bay 6, Seattle 3--Wade Boggs hit a two-run single in a four-run ninth inning as the Mariners’ bullpen failed to hold a lead again, sending the team to its fifth consecutive loss.

Seattle’s bullpen failed to convert a save chance for the 11th time this season. The Mariners led, 3-0, in the eighth and then blew a ninth-inning lead for the fifth time this year.

Tampa Bay won for the first time in 24 games after trailing after eight innings.