Wells Again at Forefront With 17th Win

David Wells doesn’t want to think about winning the Cy Young Award. He just wants to keep the Toronto Blue Jays in contention.

Wells became the first 17-game winner in the major leagues this season and Tony Batista hit his American League-leading 33rd home run Saturday as the Blue Jays defeated the Texas Rangers, 8-5, at Toronto.

“Winning the Cy Young Award means nothing to me at this point,” Wells said. “I don’t want to give it any thought.”

The Blue Jays closed within 4 1/2 games of the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East.

“Every win is crucial now,” Wells said.

“Hopefully, we’ll get some help from some other teams.”

Wells (17-4) gave up just one run before Rusty Greer’s three-run double with two out in the seventh.

He gave up eight hits in seven innings, struck out five and walked one, improving to 2-2 in five starts since the all-star break. Wells needs one more win to match his career high, set with the Yankees in 1998.

“He mixed it up a lot, and that’s why he’s one of the best pitchers in the game,” the Rangers’ Royce Clayton said.

Billy Koch gave up an RBI single to Rafael Palmeiro in the ninth, then ended the game by striking out Gabe Kapler with two on for his 27th save in 31 chances.

Toronto has won three in a row at home after five consecutive losses on the road.

Rookie Doug Davis (4-3), making his first start since May 17, gave up six runs and nine hits in five innings.

Seattle 6, New York 5--David Cone, back from a 1 1/2-week stay at New York’s minor league complex, struggled through six innings and remained winless since April 28, as the Yankees fell to the Mariners at New York.

The Mariners broke a 3-3 tie with three runs in the ninth inning and defeated Dwight Gooden (5-4).

Brett Tomko (6-3) pitched two innings for the win and Kazuhiro Sasaki got three out for his 26th save in 29 chances, giving up a two-run homer to Jorge Posada, who had his sixth career multihomer game.

The Yankees lost for the 13th consecutive time in a game started by Cone, who gave up seven hits and five walks.

Detroit 4, Minnesota 3--Billy McMillon homered twice in his Tiger debut and Javier Cardona hit his first major league home run in a victory over the Twins at Detroit.

Juan Encarnacion hit a tiebreaking single for Detroit in the sixth that chased Joe Mays (6-13).

Knuckleballer Steve Sparks (1-2) gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings.

Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his AL-leading 32nd save.

Tampa Bay 5, Baltimore 4--Miguel Cairo walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Devil Rays won at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Greg Vaughn started the winning rally with a single off Mike Trombley (4-3).

Doug Creek and Roberto Hernandez threw five hitless innings out of the bullpen. Creek walked one in three innings, while Hernandez (3-3) worked two perfect innings.

Kansas City 7, Boston 5--Mark Quinn hit a tiebreaking double during a three-run eighth inning and Johnny Damon went three for five with two doubles and three runs scored to lead the Royals at Boston.

Mike Sweeney drove in two runs for the Royals, who won for just the second time in nine games.

Boston’s Carl Everett went three for five with his 27th homer in his return after a 10-game suspension for bumping an umpire July 15.

Nomar Garciaparra went one for four, dropping his major league-leading average to .392.