Victory Puts Torre in Elite Company

Joe Torre wasn’t figuring on a lengthy tenure when he signed to manage the New York Yankees before the 1996 season. Now he stands among the managerial giants in Yankee history.

Torre got his 1,000th win as Yankee manager, with Hideki Matsui hitting a three-run homer in an 8-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday at Arlington, Texas, that stretched New York’s winning streak to a season-high five games.

Torre has a 1,000-645 record with New York, trailing only Joe McCarthy (1,460), Casey Stengel (1,149) and Miller Huggins (1,067). Torre has the longest uninterrupted term among Yankee managers since Stengel from 1949 to 1960.

“I think 1,000 wins as a Yankee manager is pretty incredible considering the company you’re in,” Torre said. “A thousand is a lot of wins, especially when you signed a two-year contract back in ’96. The Yankee record book is a special place to be. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be here this long.”

Overall as a manager, Torre is 1,894-1,648, including stints with the New York Mets, Atlanta and St. Louis.

“I’m very proud of him,” Yankee owner George Steinbrenner said through spokesman Howard Rubenstein. “He’s making the right moves. He knows how to lead the team, and he’s shown great leadership.”

Minnesota 4, Detroit 2 -- Johan Santana struck out 11 and carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning at Minneapolis.

Ivan Rodriguez led off the seventh with a single, ending Santana’s bid for the first no-hitter since Randy Johnson threw a perfect game for the Arizona Diamondbacks against Atlanta in 2004.

Tampa Bay 3, Oakland 2 -- Jonny Gomes hit a pair of RBI doubles and Mark Hendrickson pitched six strong innings at Oakland.

Hendrickson (2-2) ended a two-start losing streak and won for the first time since coming off the disabled list after missing time with shoulder soreness, and the Devil Rays won a series for the fourth time this year.

Before the game, the A’s put outfielder Milton Bradley on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained muscle in his right side.

Cleveland 2, Seattle 0 -- C.C. Sabathia won in his second straight start since coming off the disabled list, scattering seven hits over eight innings at Seattle.

Sabathia (2-0) struck out four and walked none. Bob Wickman pitched the ninth for sixth save. It was Wickman’s 130th save with the Indians, moving him past Doug Jones and into first place in franchise history.

Boston 10, Baltimore 3 -- Jason Varitek hit a grand slam at Boston and the Red Sox tied a franchise record with their 11th consecutive win over the Orioles.

Chicago 3, Kansas City 2 -- Joe Crede hit a tiebreaking single with two out in the eighth inning at Chicago.

While Chicago has won 11 of its last 12 home games, the Royals dropped to 2-14 on the road this year.