Blue Jays Rally to Defeat Yankees

Mariano Rivera’s cut fastball looked lively again Saturday in New York. Yet somehow the Toronto Blue Jays found a way to beat baseball’s best closer.

Rivera’s pitches broke five bats in the ninth inning, but he gave up the winning run after he couldn’t handle Chris Latham’s spinning grounder as Toronto beat the New York Yankees, 5-3.

“He’s filthy,” said Blue Jay reliever Dan Plesac. “He’s the best in baseball. We didn’t hit a ball hard off him. That happens sometimes. But do I feel sorry for him? No way.”

New York, which remained in a first-place tie with the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, has lost four in a row and seven of 11 since the All-Star game.

This might have been the toughest loss of all as Rivera (3-5) gave up two runs in the ninth inning despite sawing off bat after bat.

Carlos Delgado led off the ninth with a broken-bat single. Brad Fullmer fouled off four straight 2-2 pitches before blooping a single to left.

After a sacrifice bunt by Luis Lopez, the Yankees decided to pitch to Latham, a career .173 hitter. Latham hit a grounder up the middle off Rivera’s glove for a run-scoring infield single.

Rivera slammed his hands to the ground in frustration after misplaying the ball that allowed the go-ahead run to score.

Pinch-hitter Tony Fernandez added a run-scoring groundout for the Blue Jays, who have won 10 of 12 against the Yankees since last year.

Paul Quantrill (8-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for the victory, and Billy Koch got three outs for his 19th save in 22 chances.

Delgado hit a two-run homer and Latham added a solo shot, the second home run of his career, as Toronto took a 3-1 lead off Randy Keisler in the fourth.

Seattle 6, Minnesota 3--Al Martin hit a three-run homer and demoted starter John Halama (7-6) gave up one run and five hits in 4 1/3 innings of relief for the Mariners at Minneapolis.

Kazuhiro Sasaki pitched the ninth for his 32nd save.

Minnesota rookie Adam Johnson failed to survive the fourth, allowing six hits and six runs. He hit two batters, walked two and struck out three.

Cleveland 8, Detroit 4--Charles Nagy (4-3), who was honored as one of the Indians’ top 100 players during pregame ceremonies, gave up three runs and five hits in seven innings to get the victory at Cleveland.

Jolbert Cabrera had three hits, including a two-run double, Roberto Alomar had two runs batted in and Omar Vizquel had three hits as the Indians moved to within two games of the first-place Twins in the AL Central.

Tampa Bay 2, Texas 1--Brent Abernathy hit a home run in the sixth to break up Darren Oliver’s bid for a perfect game and John Flaherty added a solo shot in the eighth for the Devil Rays at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Oliver (7-6), who gave up two runs and three hits in eight innings, retired the first 16 batters.

Victor Zambrano (3-1) worked a scoreless eighth inning for the win. Esteban Yan got the final three outs for his 10th save.

Chicago 10, Boston 3--Paul Konerko hit a grand slam, keying a seven-run third inning, and James Baldwin rebounded from a shaky start at Chicago.

Jeff Liefer homered and rookie Aaron Rowand had four hits and drove in two runs for Chicago, which stopped a losing streak at three games.

Tomo Ohka (2-5) lost his third consecutive decision since being recalled--and fifth in a row overall. Boston pitchers issued a season-high 11 walks.

Baldwin (7-5), who is being scouted heavily for possible trades, has won five of his last six starts.

Oakland 10, Kansas City 1--Eric Chavez doubled twice and drove in two runs at Kansas City, Mo.

Chavez, who had two homers and six RBIs on Friday night in his first start after missing four games because of a thumb injury, went two for three with an intentional walk. Greg Myers and Jeremy Giambi hit home runs for Oakland.