Yanks Rally To Down Blue Jays
American League
Ruben Sierra hit a three-run homer and Randy Velarde had an RBI single in a five-run eighth inning that carried the New York Yankees to a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays Thursday night,
New York completed its first-ever, four-game sweep of the Blue Jays and pulled within a half-game of the idle California Angels and the Seattle Mariners in the American League wild card race.
Sierra’s homer, his 18th of the year and sixth since joining the Yankees on July 28, was his first since Aug. 28 and came off Paul Menhart (1-3).
Menhart held the Yankees to five hits in seven innings before Bernie Williams and Paul O’Neill opened the eighth with singles. Sierra homered into the seats in right to tie the score 4-4.
Twins 5, Royals 2
Kansas City, Mo.
Marty Cordova tripled home a run and scored two as Minnesota all but ended Kansas City’s wild-card playoff hopes with a victory in a virtually empty stadium on a cold night.
It was the last-place Twins who played like a playoff team, getting strong pitching from starter Brad Radke (11-13) and a magnificent catch in center from Rich Becker to send the Royals four games back with nine to play.
White Sox 5, Brewers 1
Chicago
Alex Fernandez won his sixth straight decision, pitching a five-hitter for his fourth complete game, as Chicago downed Milwaukee.
Fernandez (11-8) walked none and struck out seven on a wet and windy night to match his career-best winning streak. He retired 19 of the final 20 hitters and hasn’t lost since Aug. 5.
Orioles 13, Tigers 1
Detroit
Baltimore’s Mike Mussina became the winningest pitcher in the A.L. with his 17th victory, throwing a three-hitter as the Orioles beat Detroit.
Mussina (17-9) struck out eight and walked four to move one victory ahead of Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and New York’s David Cone.
Wisconsin draws the line
Plans for building a stadium for the Milwaukee Brewers will include guarantees that taxpayers don’t get stuck with cost overruns.
Sen. Timothy Weeden said legislation would limit the state’s obligation to no more than the amount specified in agreements with the Brewers to keep them from leaving Milwaukee.
Clearing the bases
There were only about 1,000 fans in the stands for Minnesota’s game in Kansas City, although paid attendance was announced as 15,325. The temperature at game time was 45 degrees with a 14-mph wind from the north… . A crowd of 14,803 showed up in Detroit for what was probably the final home appearance of shortstop Alan Trammell, second baseman Lou Whitaker and possibly Manager Sparky Anderson.
Tony Cuccinello, third-base coach for the 1959 White Sox, Chicago’s last pennant winner, and a 15-year major-league player, died of congestive heart failure at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa. He was 87.… . New York appointed former Cardinals advance scout Jack Hubbard as director of player development and scouting.