Yankee Heroics Add to Red Sox Misery

Orlando Hernandez is back and the New York Yankees’ dominant rotation is even better.

Hernandez pitched eight strong innings, and Bernie Williams’ solo home run in the ninth gave the Yankees a 2-1 win Saturday at Boston, the second game in a row in which they overtook the Red Sox in the final two innings.

“He showed more determination,” New York Manager Joe Torre said of Hernandez, who had been 0-8 since Sept. 16. “You get slapped in the face so many times, you’re going to get your competitive spirit up.”

It was another painful loss for Boston, in the midst of a stretch dive as its chances of reaching the playoffs grow slimmer each day.

The Red Sox dropped eight games behind New York in the AL East and remained seven games behind Oakland in the wild-card race.

“Reality’s setting in right now,” Boston catcher Doug Mirabelli said, “the reality of us missing our window to take some of these games.”

Hernandez (1-6) helped stretch Boston’s losing streak to seven games, its longest since losing seven from Aug. 29 to Sept. 5, 1997. Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his 43rd save in 49 chances.

Pedro Martinez, in his second start since spending two months on the disabled list because of a shoulder injury, struck out six, gave up two hits and walked none in six scoreless innings.

But Ugueth Urbina (0-1) allowed a run-scoring single to Chuck Knoblauch in the eighth and Williams’ 21st homer leading off the ninth.

Tampa Bay 8, Oakland 6--The Athletics’ eight-game road winning streak ended when Jason Tyner hit a run-scoring double during a three-run rally in the eighth inning at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Oakland, which had won six in a row overall, was trying to win nine consecutive road games for the first time since 1988.

Tyner doubled down the right-field line off Mike Magnante, and Damian Rolls added a run-scoring single. Jared Sandberg drew Tampa Bay even at 6-6 with an RBI double earlier in the inning off Jeff Tam (2-4).

Seattle 6, Baltimore 4--Ichiro Suzuki lined a bases-loaded single off reliever B.J. Ryan’s leg that capped a four-run rally in the sixth inning, and the Mariners kept their record road streak intact by winning at Baltimore.

Seattle has not lost in 27 consecutive road series in the regular season since August 2000. They can keep the mark intact with a victory today.

Paul Abbott (14-3) won for the 12th time in his last 13 decisions despite a shaky outing. He gave up four runs on seven hits and six walks over five innings.

Cleveland 4, Chicago 3--Roberto Alomar drove in two runs, and Ryan Drese won his first major league start as the Indians won at Chicago.

Drese, called up from triple-A Buffalo earlier in the day, gave up two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Juan Gonzalez and Ellis Burks added RBIs for the Indians, who have won 13 of 19 games.

Jose Valentin hit a two-run double and Royce Clayton continued his offensive surge with three hits. But Valentin also had two errors, and the White Sox stranded seven runners as they fell 81/2 games back in the AL Central.

Kansas City 8, Texas 7--Luis Alicea hit a bases-loaded single with one out in the 11th inning to cap the Royals’ rally from seven runs down at Kansas City, Mo.

Texas jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the fourth inning, but Kansas City tied the game with a seven-run sixth inning. The teams remained scoreless until the 11th.

Toronto 3, Detroit 1--Rookie Brandon Lyon won his third consecutive start in lifting the Blue Jays past the Tigers at Toronto.

Lyon (4-2) gave up one run on four hits in seven innings. Dan Plesac pitched two innings for his first save since 1999 while with Arizona.