Yankees’ Streak Ends as Williams Beaned

It wasn’t the New York Yankees’ night.

Center fielder Bernie Williams left the game after being hit in the helmet with a pitch before his Yankees had their six-game winning streak snapped with a 7-5 loss Thursday to the White Sox at Chicago.

Williams writhed in the dirt for several seconds after the first-inning pitch by Kip Wells and then was led to the dugout by a trainer and Manager Joe Torre. An angry Williams told Torre he was OK to return but was replaced by Gerald Williams.

As Williams was being examined in front of the dugout, an incensed Yankee bench coach Don Zimmer raced to first base screaming at umpire Rob Drake and had to be restrained by Torre.

It was not clear why Zimmer was so irate but he was ejected.

Chicago’s big hit came on Josh Paul’s go-ahead two-run double after an intentional walk loaded the bases with the score tied 4-4 in the sixth.

The Yankees’ magic number for clinching the AL East remained at five.

Sean Lowe (8-4) got the victory.

Meanwhile, Williams thought he would be fine.

“I’m all right. I got a big knot on my head. Good thing I had a helmet on,” said Williams, who had a slight headache.

Wells said it was all unintended.

“I wasn’t trying to hit him in the head, I was trying to go up and in and it got away,” Wells said.

Oakland 7, Texas 2--Barry Zito won his sixth consecutive start and Eric Chavez drove in four runs as the Athletics moved closer to clinching the AL wild card. Their magic number is five.

Zito (14-8) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings. During his winning streak, he has a 0.86 earned-run average.

Boston 2, Tampa Bay 1--Calvin Pickering homered and started the go-ahead rally with a single at Boston in leading the Red Sox to a victory.

Pickering, claimed off waivers from Cincinnati on Sept. 6, hit his first homer for Boston in the second, then singled to start the eighth against Doug Creek (2-4). Chris Stynes doubled in the go-ahead run as Boston won for only the third time in 17 games.

Rolando Arrojo (5-3) escaped a bases-loaded, one-out threat in the seventh by striking out Toby Hall and retiring Randy Winn on a flyout. Rod Beck pitched the ninth for his sixth save.

Minnesota 3, Detroit 0--The Twins’ Joe Mays beat the Tigers for the fifth time this season, throwing a six-hitter at Minneapolis.

Mays (16-13) gave up only six singles and improved to 5-0 with a 1.13 ERA against the Tigers this season. Jacque Jones hit his second homer in as many games to give Mays all he needed.

Baltimore 12, Toronto 6--Pinch-hitter Tony Batista helped end a 10-game losing streak with a go-ahead, three-run homer against his former team as the Orioles won at Toronto.

Cal Ripken, retiring at the end of the season, went two for five with two RBIs in what figures to be his last game in Toronto. He received loud ovations during each plate appearance.

Kansas City 4, Cleveland 2--Rookie Chris George (4-5) gave up four hits in seven-plus innings to slow the Indians’ playoff push at Kansas City. Cleveland’s magic number stayed at 10 for clinching the AL Central.