Yankees Are Back in Lead

After enduring two rain delays totaling nearly two hours, the New York Yankees regained sole possession of first place in the American League East with an 11-3 victory over the host Baltimore Orioles on Monday night.

Randy Johnson (16-8) pitched six shutout innings, Jason Giambi homered to cap a six-run fourth and the Yankees got 12 hits in building an 11-0 lead against the Orioles, who lost their season-high ninth in a row.

The Yankees are half a game ahead of Boston in the division. The teams wrap up the regular season with a three-game series starting Friday at Boston.

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Detroit 4, Chicago 3 -- Curtis Granderson’s leadoff homer in the bottom of the ninth proved the difference. Chicago’s lead in the AL Central dropped to two games over idle Cleveland, and the White Sox magic number remained at five.

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Kansas City 5, Minnesota 0 -- Rookie J.P. Howell (3-5) pitched five hitless innings before he was replaced and Angel Berroa homered to lead the Royals at Minneapolis.

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Toronto at Boston, ppd. -- The game was postponed because of rain. It will be made up today as part of a day-night doubleheader.