Yankees Squabble, Also Win

New York pounded Eric Milton for eight runs in a 13-4 rain-shortened victory over the Minnesota Twins at New York on Saturday, but not before Chuck Knoblauch fired back at Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, a day after being after ordered back from the team’s minor league complex in Florida where he was rehabbing his elbow.

“If I don’t have the throwing problem, no one questions if I’m hurt,” Knoblauch said in a profanity-laced interview. “I spent 10 years in the majors and never went on the DL. I go on once and everyone questions if I’m hurt.”

Steinbrenner hinted for the second time this season that Knoblauch’s injury might not be as serious as the second baseman thinks.

“We’ve had players come down to Tampa all year and had success [getting them healthy or restoring their confidence.] With him, we’ve failed,” Steinbrenner told the New York Daily News.

Seattle 4, Boston 1--Edgar Martinez, who entered the game 0 for 20 against the Red Sox this season, hit a tiebreaking homer leading off the eighth, and Freddy Garcia (5-4) gave up one run and three hits, struck out seven and walked none in seven innings as the Mariners won for only the fourth time in 19 games.

Baltimore 8, Cleveland 6--Cleveland’s Bartolo Colon took a shutout into the sixth inning before leaving with a stiff right shoulder. Delino DeShields was credited with a two-run single in Baltimore’s four-run seventh as the Orioles ended an eight-game losing streak at Cleveland.

The Indians closed to 6-5 in the eighth on Travis Fryman’s two-run double off Mike Trombley. Baltimore added two runs in the ninth.

Kansas City 7, Tampa Bay 5--Roberto Hernandez’s throwing error allowed the go-ahead run to score during the Royals’ two-run ninth at St. Petersburg.

Detroit 5, Texas 3--Juan Gonzalez’s first-inning, inside-the-park homer at Detroit helped the Tigers move within four games of Cleveland in the AL wild-card race.

Willie Blair (10-4) won for the fifth time in seven decisions, giving up three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks in 6 1/3 innings.

Oakland 8, Toronto 0--Gil Heredia pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings and gave up four hits, walked three and struck out four for his career-high 14th win at Toronto.