Yankee Winning Streak Reaches Eight

On a night when they committed four errors, gave up 15 hits and fell behind by three runs, the New York Yankees still found a way to win.

Ruben Sierra hit a pivotal three-run home run, Andy Pettitte won his fourth straight start and New York extended its winning streak to eight games by beating the Orioles, 6-5, Monday night at Baltimore.

Karim Garcia also homered for the Yankees, who have won 11 of 12 games to open a four-game lead over Boston in the American League East.

“I don’t like that number in the [error] column, but none of them were from not paying attention,” Manager Joe Torre said.

The Orioles led, 4-3, in the seventh, when Sidney Ponson (10-5) gave up singles to Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi. B.J. Ryan came in, and Sierra sent the fourth pitch from the left-hander into the left-field seats.

It was the first homer given up by Ryan in 36 games this season.

The shot made a winner of Pettitte (9-6), who gave up four runs -- three earned -- and 10 hits in six innings. The left-hander improved to 15-4 against the Orioles in his career.

“I really struggled. I struggled with my first-pitch strikes to hitters, I struggled with my control,” Pettitte said. “It could have been a lot worse, but I made some big pitches when I had to. It felt like they had the bases loaded every inning after the first.”

Seattle 3, Oakland 1 -- Jamie Moyer took a no-hitter into the seventh inning at Oakland on his way to becoming the fifth 11-game winner in the majors.

Moyer (11-5) walked Erubiel Durazo in the first inning before retiring the next 17 batters. The 40-year-old Moyer, who kept the Athletics guessing with his array of off-speed pitches, ended a three-game losing streak and helped the Mariners move seven games ahead of the A’s in the AL West.

Cleveland 10-8, Kansas City 5-5 -- Casey Blake homered for the Indians in each game of a doubleheader and drove in seven runs at Kansas City, Mo.

Blake hit his first career grand slam and drove in five runs in the first game and had three hits and drove in two runs in the second game.

The Royals have lost four straight, giving up 44 runs during the skid.

Detroit 6, Toronto 2 -- The host Tigers (19-61) averted tying the 1904 Washington Senators for the worst 80-game start since 1901 and ended a nine-game losing streak.

Mike Maroth (3-12) gave up eight hits and a walk. He struck out four to improve to 2-1 in his last four starts.

Chicago 10, Minnesota 3 -- Magglio Ordonez homered twice and Jon Garland pitched seven strong innings to lead the White Sox at Chicago.

Ordonez’s two-run homer in the fifth inning was the 1,000th hit of his career.