Blue Jays Finally Beat Yankees

Joey Hamilton pitched six strong innings and Tony Batista hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees for the first time in eight tries this season, 3-1, Tuesday at New York.

Hamilton (4-6) cruised through the first five innings, scattering three hits and facing just two over the minimum before Joe Girardi led off the sixth with his first homer since July 9, 1998, to tie it 1-1.

The Blue Jays recaptured the lead an inning later when Homer Bush doubled and scored on Batista’s single off David Cone (10-6). Batista added an RBI single in the ninth and Billy Koch finished for his 22nd save.

Toronto, in a tight race with Boston for the wild-card spot, cut New York’s lead in the American League East to five games.

“We came here to try to win [the division],” Toronto Manager Jim Fregosi said, dispelling any doubt that the Blue Jays were satisfied merely to break their 0-7 record against the Yankees. But he added: “It’s good to know you can finally beat them.”

Seattle 5, Tampa Bay 2--The Devil Rays’ Wade Boggs closed to within four hits of 3,000, but the Mariners tied their longest winning streak of the season at six with the victory at Safeco Field.

Boggs went one for three to give him 2,996 career hits, one more than San Diego’s Tony Gwynn. The Devil Rays lost their fifth straight.

Rookie left-hander John Halama (9-2) tied the Mariner record by winning his ninth straight decision and Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez homered for Seattle on consecutive pitches in the fifth inning off Ryan Rupe (6-5).

Jose Mesa earned his 23rd save in 26 chances.

Oakland 12, Baltimore 2--Matt Stairs and Miguel Tejada hit three-run homers, the third consecutive game each had homered, as the Athletics extended their winning streak to five games with a victory over the slumping Orioles at Oakland.

Rookie Tim Hudson (6-1) pitched seven solid innings for Oakland, which won its eighth straight at home to remain 2 1/2 games behind Toronto and pull within a game of Boston in the AL wild-card race.

Ricky Bones (0-3) was the loser as the Orioles fell for the sixth straight game.

Chicago 9, Detroit 6--Craig Wilson and Chris Singleton hit two-run homers as the White Sox swept the two-game series at Detroit and sent the Tigers to their eighth straight loss.

Singleton was four for five with three runs batted in and Ray Durham had three hits for the White Sox, who have won three straight and five of seven.

Dean Palmer and Gabe Alvarez hit home runs for the Tigers, whose losing streak is their worst since a nine-game skid last August.

John Snyder (9-6) got the victory. Bob Howry earned his 18th save.

Justin Thompson (9-10) lost his second straight.

Texas 9, Minnesota 5--Ivan Rodriguez went four for five with three runs scored at Arlington, Texas, to keep up his torrid pace as the Rangers remained unbeaten in nine games against the Twins this season.

Juan Gonzalez went two for four with three RBIs.

Rusty Greer and Rafael Palmeiro drove in two runs each for the Rangers, 16-3 since the All-Star break.

Rodriguez singled in the first, second, sixth and eighth innings, and is 19 for 28 over his last six games.

Mike Morgan (12-6) got the win. Benj Sampson (3-2) took the loss.