Fletcher as Happy as Jay Bird

Two months ago, Darrin Fletcher could only hope to get a chance like this.

Fletcher hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning Wednesday night at Toronto and the Blue Jays rallied past Baltimore, 10-9, sending the Orioles to their season-high seventh consecutive loss.

“I’ve never had a walk-off homer in my career, so it was kind of special,” said Fletcher, who pumped his fist after the homer.

Fletcher is batting .305 with six homers and 18 runs batted in since returning to the lineup after missing a month because of a broken bone in his eye socket.

He suffered what he thought was a career-threatening injury after a ball ricocheted off a metal bar in a batting cage May 1.

“The whole month of May my vision was blurry. I sat at home thinking when and if I would ever get out there again,” he said. “I realized the game is a blessing and I’m enjoying it.”

Pinch-hitter Willie Greene’s leadoff homer in the Toronto ninth tied the score, 7-7.

After the Orioles scored twice in the top of the 10th, the Blue Jays came back to hand Baltimore its 10th loss in a row at the SkyDome.

Toronto starter David Wells, who gave up seven runs in his last start, gave up seven runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.

John Frascatore (2-0) won in relief for the second night in a row.

Detroit 8, New York 2--Even the Detroit Tigers conceded this wasn’t one for the highlight films.

Missed throws, bad pitches, 25 stranded runners, 10 walks, three errors.

Neither the Tigers nor the Yankees were very proud.

“We stunk pretty bad today,” New York catcher Joe Girardi said after Detroit stopped the Yankees’ seven-game winning streak.

Tony Clark’s two-run homer into the center-field bleachers was pretty much the only moment to savor.

It was only the 17th ball hit into the center-field bleachers (by 14 players) since the remodeled Yankee Stadium opened in 1976.

The Yankees, who had at least one runner in every inning, outhit Detroit, 12-11, but matched a season high by stranding 15. New York was 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

Minnesota 5, Cleveland 3--Eric Milton limited Cleveland’s powerful offense to five hits over 8 1/3 innings, and Terry Steinbach hit a three-run homer to lead the Twins at Cleveland.

Milton (3-7) struck out seven and walked two, retiring 13 consecutive batters from the third through seventh innings.

Steinbach’s three-run shot capped a four-run first inning against Jaret Wright (6-5).

Indian Manager Mike Hargrove was ejected in the Cleveland third after arguing a batter’s interference call on Roberto Alomar that resulted in baserunner Omar Vizquel being called out.

Tampa Bay 11, Boston 10--Roberto Hernandez got Nomar Garciaparra on a game-ending grounder with runners on second and third in the 10th inning, and the Devil Rays held off the Red Sox in Boston.

Tampa Bay’s Wade Boggs hit his first homer of the season and also singled against his former team, moving within 31 hits of 3,000.

A throwing error by third baseman Lou Merloni helped Tampa Bay take an 11-9 lead in the 10th against John Wasdin (7-1). Miguel Cairo singled home the go-ahead run and Kevin Stocker had an RBI groundout.

Chicago 10, Kansas City 9--Mike Caruso tripled with one out in the 10th inning and scored on Ray Durham’s sacrifice fly as the White Sox rallied past the Royals at Kansas City, Mo.

The start was delayed by rain for 78 minutes. There was another delay of 56 minutes in the middle of the 10th.

About 200 fans were left in the ballpark when the game ended at 12:37 a.m. CDT.