Yanks Pitcher First To Notch 12 Wins
American League
Andy Pettitte became the American League’s first 12-game winner Saturday, allowing only three hits over seven innings as the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 in New York.
Pettitte (12-4) walked one and struck out four, throwing 97 pitches and showing no after-effects from the left elbow stiffness that caused him to be held back in the Yankees’ rotation.
New York expanded its lead over Baltimore in the A.L. East to 5-1/2 games in front of 45,295, the third-largest crowd at Yankee Stadium this season.
Indians 3, Chicago 2 (10) Chicago
Jim Thome’s two-run single with two outs in the 10th inning kept Cleveland alone atop the A.L. Central, lifting the Indians to victory over the White Sox.
The Indians, who had lost seven of their previous eight games, were two outs from being tied in the standings by the White Sox.
Brewers 7, Blue Jays 4 Toronto
Kevin Seitzer hit a tworun homer in a five-run sixth inning and Scott Karl won for the fifth time in six decisions as Milwaukee beat Toronto.
Jose Valentin’s home run in the fifth extended the Milwaukee team record for homers in consecutive games to 18.
Twins 12, Royals 7 Kansas City, Mo.
Marty Cordova had four hits to extend his hitting streak to 23 games, and Matt Lawton homered during a six-run third inning that sent Minnesota over Kansas City.
Cordova’s hitting streak is the longest in the majors this season.
Red Sox 13, Tigers 6 Boston
John Valentin homered twice and Reggie Jefferson singled, doubled and tripled to lead Boston over Detroit.
Athletics 11, Angels 9 Anaheim, Calif.
Oakland hit three home runs to tie a major-league record with 18 in four games in a win over California.
Jason Giambi, Terry Steinbach and Geronimo Berroa homered for the A’s, who matched the 1977 Boston Red Sox for the most homers in a four-game span.
Clearing the bases
The New York Yankees have not lost consecutive games at Yankee Stadium since Aug. 21, 1995. … Milwaukee’s Greg Vaughn extended his hitting streak to a club-high 15 games with a double in his third at-bat.
Saturday’s Angels’ game was California’s first scheduled Saturday day game in nearly four years, since July 25, 1992. Today, the Angels will play a non-televised night game. Disney Sports Enterprises, the team’s new controlling owner, devised the odd scheduling to test fan reaction. … Oakland’s Terry Steinbach has six homers and 17 RBIs in his last 10 games. … The Angels’ Randy Velarde extended his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games.