Torre Receives Ringing Ovation

It was a special day at Yankee Stadium before the reigning world champions even took the field Sunday. Then Orlando Hernandez almost made it a perfect day.

Before the game, the Yankees received their 1998 World Series championship rings in a ceremony that included Joe Torre’s first appearance in a Yankee uniform since undergoing surgery to remove prostate cancer in March.

Then Hernandez carried a perfect game into the seventh inning, as the Yankees overwhelmed the Detroit Tigers, 11-2.

Derek Jeter homered, doubled and drove in three runs to lead the offense.

Hernandez set down the first 19 hitters before walking Gregg Jefferies with one out in the seventh. Tony Clark singled with two out in the inning to break the no-hit bid.

“I would like to have thrown a no-hitter, but that was not my first priority,” Hernandez said as catcher Jorge Posada translated. “I wanted to win the game. That was my main thing today.”

The afternoon began with AL President Gene Budig presenting the Yankees with 14-carat gold rings that feature the interlocking “NY” set with 24 diamonds, one for each of the Yankees’ record championships, and bears the words “Best Ever” and “Tradition.”

Torre, who first suggested “Best Ever” go on the rings after the team won a record 125 games overall in 1998, got a standing ovation when he trotted onto the field to get his jewelry.

Torre said he hopes to return full time by early May and relieve interim Manager Don Zimmer, hobbled by a sore knee.

Tampa Bay 5, Boston 4--Danny Clyburn’s first hit for the Devil Rays, a two-out home run in the eighth, broke a 4-4 tie and handed the Red Sox their first loss of the season at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Boston, which won five consecutive games at the start of a season for the first time in 53 years, was the last unbeaten team in the majors.

Cleveland 9, Minnesota 8--Richie Sexson had three runs batted in for the second game in a row as the Indians defeated the Twins to complete a three-game sweep at Minneapolis for the first time since 1986.

Sexson went three for five with two doubles and a triple. Jim Thome and Wil Cordero added two-run homers for the Indians, who outscored the Twins, 35-20, and outhit them, 54-28, in the series.

Toronto 9, Baltimore 5--Darrin Fletcher hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning after the Orioles botched a rundown, giving the Blue Jays a comeback victory at Baltimore.

Fletcher’s first homer of the season capped a five-run uprising against Jesse Orosco (0-1). The rally was aided by Cal Ripken’s second throwing error of the game, on a simple rundown between third and home.

Kansas City 3, Chicago 1--Jeff King, Mike Sweeney and Joe Randa hit solo home runs to back Kevin Appier and lead the Royals over the White Sox for their first sweep at Chicago in six years.

Appier (1-1) gave up four hits in six-plus innings, allowing a home run to Frank Thomas.

Appier, who lost to Boston, 5-3, in the season opener, struck out four and walked two, leaving after Chris Singleton’s leadoff single in the seventh.

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

* Richie Sexson, Cleveland

3 for 5, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs in 9-8 victory over Minnesota.

* Derek Jeter, New York

2 for 3, 3 runs, homer, 3 RBIs in 11-2 victory over Detroit.

* Darrin Fletcher, Toronto

2 for 5, double, homer, 3 RBIs in 9-5 victory over Baltimore.

PITCHING

* Orlando Hernandez, N.Y.

7 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts in 11-2 victory over Detroit.

* Aaron Sele, Texas

5 2/3 innings, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 10 strikeouts in 6-3 victory over Angels.

* Kevin Appier, Kansas City

6 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 4 strikeouts in 3-1 victory over Chicago.