Royals Finally End Yankees’ Streak, 13-6

The Kansas City Royals ended their losing streak to the New York Yankees in a big way.

Carlos Beltran and Tim Spehr hit two-run homers off Andy Pettitte as the Royals had five home runs in a 13-6 victory over the Yankees Friday night at Kansas City, Mo., ending a 12-game losing streak to the Yankees that dated to 1997.

“I read in the papers where they can run and they played little ball. Today they played little ball and they played big ball,” said Don Zimmer, the Yankees’ interim manager.

Jermaine Dye hit a solo homer off Jason Grimsley in the fifth, and Carlos Febles and Joe Randa hit consecutive home runs off Dan Naulty in the sixth.

“After all the trouble we had with them last year, this was fun,” Dye said. “We needed this one.”

The game ended tensely. After Naulty hit two Royals in the late innings, Jeff Montgomery hit Chuck Knoblauch in the ninth. Knoblauch was furious after the game, implying he’d been hit on purpose.

“Veteran pitchers who have been around have a tendency to protect their hitters,” Kansas City Manager Tony Muser said. “I hope it doesn’t lead to anything [today]. But I think it’s a part of baseball.”

The World Series champions wasted a 2-0 lead, made two errors, stranded 14 runners and gave up five homers for the first time since last June 21. The Royals had not hit five in one game since Aug. 30, 1997, against St. Louis.

Last year, en route to winning an AL-record 114 games and their second World Series title in three seasons, the Yankees went 10-0 against Kansas City, the first time in a non-strike year they had swept a team in a season series.

That won’t happen this season.

Pettitte (0-1) gave up seven runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings and has lost three consecutive times for the first time in 103 career decision.

“I think the main thing was with runners on, I was getting the ball up. I was real inconsistent,” Pettitte said.

Texas 7, Cleveland 5--Juan Gonzalez finally found his home-run stroke.

Gonzalez, who hit 45 homers last year but was stuck on one this season, went deep twice for the Rangers at Arlington, Texas.

A stiff wind helped each team hit four homers, but three of Cleveland’s were with the bases empty. Rick Helling (2-3) got the victory despite giving up all four homers.

Gonzalez hit a 442-foot, two-run shot into the Cleveland bullpen off Bartolo Colon (3-1) in the third inning to put Texas ahead 4-2, then added a solo homer to left off Mark Langston in the seventh for the final score.

Lee Stevens got Texas started with a solo homer in the third and Rusty Greer had a two-run homer in the fifth that put Texas ahead for good, 6-4. Greer also had a sacrifice fly as he and Gonzalez each drove in three runs.

Stevens has been the full-time first baseman this season because Rafael Palmeiro’s knee injury has limited him to being the designated hitter. Mike Simms, who would’ve platooned with Stevens, has been on the disabled list all year.

Stevens has responded with eight homers this month, matching the team record he equaled last year. Pete Incaviglia did it first in 1987. Seven of Stevens’ homers have come in his last 11 games.

Baltimore 7, Minnesota 1--Sidney Ponson became the first Oriole starter to win a game besides Mike Mussina, giving up two hits in seven shutout innings at Baltimore.

Ponson (1-2) struck out four, walked three and only two runners went past first base in lowering his earned run average from 6.23 to 4.05.

It was a rare pitching gem for the Orioles, who began the day with the worst ERA in the majors (6.76).

Harold Baines homered and drove in three runs for the Orioles, who won for only fourth time in 17 games. Baltimore came in with the worst record in the major leagues, but moved ahead of the Florida Marlins with the victory.

Seattle 11, Toronto 9--Ken Griffey Jr. hit his second grand slam in two games, this time in the bottom of the eighth inning off Graeme Lloyd for the Mariners at Seattle.

The Blue Jays lost despite hitting five home runs, including two by Carlos Delgado.

Griffey finished with five RBIs and became the 12th AL player and the 18th overall to hit slams in consecutive games, the first since Sammy Sosa last July 27-28. The 11 RBIs in two games set a Seattle record.

Mariner ace Jeff Fassero was pounded for eight runs, nine hits and six walks in 4 2/3 innings, raising his ERA from 5.63 to 6.87. He gave up four homers, lifting his season total to a major league-leading 10.