Wilson Shows He Has Garcia’s Number Again

Kris Wilson outpitched Freddy Garcia for the second time in five days and the Kansas City Royals halted the Seattle Mariners’ four-game winning streak, 6-1, Tuesday night at Seattle.

Wilson (5-1), a 6-3 winner over the Mariners on Thursday in Kansas City, gave up one run and seven hits in eight innings. He walked none and struck out six.

Wilson became the third pitcher to twice defeat the runaway American League West leaders this season. The others are Barry Zito and Mark Guthrie of Oakland.

The Royals snapped a 1-1 tie with three runs in the sixth. Rey Sanchez and Mike Sweeney doubled to lead off the inning for the first run. Raul Ibanez had a one-out triple and Gregg Zaun’s line-drive single off shortstop Carlos Guillen’s glove scored the third run of the inning.

Mark Quinn hit a two-run homer off Seattle reliever Ryan Franklin in the ninth.

Garcia (11-3), who lasted only four innings Thursday at Kansas City, lost consecutive starts for the first time in his career.

In eight innings, Garcia gave up four runs and nine hits. He also walked none and had five strikeouts.

New York 6, Detroit 5--Catcher Jorge Posada retrieved an errant pitch and threw out Roger Cedeno at the plate for the final out at New York.

The Yankees made a season-high four errors, including one by Mariano Rivera on Cedeno’s tapper leading off the ninth. With two out and Cedeno on third, Rivera’s first pitch to pinch-hitter Randall Simon was high and hit off the glove of Posada, who quickly retrieved it and threw to Rivera, who applied the tag.

Juan Encarnacion hit an eighth-inning homer off Ramiro Mendoza that soared about 470 feet, believed to be the first ball hit into the left-center field bleachers since Yankee Stadium was reconfigured in 1976.

Boston 6, Toronto 4--David Cone (6-1) won his sixth consecutive decision, giving up three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings at Boston. The Red Sox, who remained 1 1/2 games behind the AL East-leading Yankees, have won Cone’s last 10 starts.

Boston took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on five consecutive two-out singles.

Oakland 7, Minnesota 6--Third baseman Corey Koskie’s error allowed Terrence Long to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning at Oakland. The Twins lost their fifth in a row.

Texas 8, Baltimore 7--Pinch-hitter Randy Velarde delivered a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth at Arlington, Texas, as the Rangers came from behind twice.

Baltimore led, 7-6, before Ruben Sierra had a two-out single off Mike Trombley (2-3) and scored on an error by left fielder Mike Kinkade, who misplayed a fly ball by Gabe Kapler. Kapler scored the go-ahead run on Velarde’s double.

Chicago 4, Cleveland 1--Sean Lowe (6-2) struck out a career-high eight in 7 2/3 innings, giving up one run and six hits at Cleveland.