Wells Finally Beats Yankees

David Wells took revenge on the struggling New York Yankees.

Wells pitched a four-hitter to beat his former team for the first time in four starts this season, as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Yankees, 2-1, Monday night at Toronto to hand the Yankees their fourth consecutive loss.

The Yankees, coming off a three-game sweep by Boston, remained 3 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox, who lost to Cleveland, 11-7. The Yankees were held to one run for the third time in four games.

Wells, acquired in February in the Roger Clemens trade, was 0-3 with a 5.49 earned-run average against the Yankees this season before throwing his sixth complete game this season and the 35th of his career. Wells (14-10) struck out two and walked two.

After the game, Wells bolted from the clubhouse and met with former teammate David Cone, who is pitching Tuesday.

“I’m just not in the mood for talking,” Wells said. “I’ve got personal things on my mind.”

Oakland 8, Tampa Bay 3--Jason Giambi, Randy Velarde and Olmedo Saenz homered at St. Petersburg, Fla., as the A’s won their fifth consecutive game.

Miguel Tejada had a two-run single during a five-run third inning for the A’s, who have won 13 of their last 18 road games. The A’s, who began the day 5 1/2 games behind Texas in the AL West, moved to within two games of Boston for the wild card.

Kevin Appier (15-12) allowed three runs and seven hits in eight innings, improving to 6-3 since Oakland acquired him from Kansas City on July 31.

Cleveland 11, Boston 7--Kenny Lofton returned from a strained right hamstring to homer for the first time since June 11, driving in three runs to lead the Indians at Cleveland.

Lofton, who had missed nine games, was three for four, and Richie Sexson and Harold Baines each hit three-run homers for the Indians.

Charles Nagy (16-9) gave up five runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, improving to 7-1 against the Red Sox since Aug. 13, 1992. Paul Shuey pitched two innings for his sixth save.

Baltimore 5, Seattle 4--Cal Ripken homered and drove in three runs, and B.J. Surhoff scored the winning run in the 10th inning at Baltimore on a throwing error by Jose Mesa.

Ripken hit a two-run homer in the second inning and a sacrifice fly in the sixth for the Orioles, who completed their first four-game sweep of the Mariners.

Ripken needs 18 hits over the final 18 games to reach 3,000.

Texas 8, Kansas City 4--Roberto Kelly singled home the go-ahead run against Jose Santiago (2-4) and the Rangers scored four unearned runs in the 10th inning at Kansas City, Mo.

Detroit 3, Chicago 2--Former Dodger Dave Mlicki (13-10) gave up three hits in seven-plus innings at Chicago to win his eighth consecutive start.