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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bullpen Woes Plague Yanks

Associated Press

American League

The New York Yankees keep getting burned by ex-teammates and a bad bullpen, two things which aren’t bothering the Milwaukee Brewers for a change.

The Yankees watched their relief corps fail again, losing their fifth straight game 5-4 Thursday to Milwaukee when reliever David Weathers walked John Jaha with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Yankees starter Andy Pettitte, trying to become the majors’ first four-game winner, left with a 4-3 lead after seven innings.

But the Brewers rallied against the Yankees’ beleaguered bullpen, tying it in the eighth with a run off Brian Boehringer and winning in the ninth with the help of an error by reliever Graeme Lloyd and Weathers’ walk.

The Yankees fell to 5-5 when leading after seven innings. Last season, the World Series champions were 79-1 in the same situation. Since last year, however, New York has lost closer John Wetteland - the World Series MVP and had to reshuffle its relief corps.

Twins 4, Angels 3 (10)

Minneapolis

Denny Hocking’s two-out, run-scoring single in the bottom of the 10th inning capped a three-hit, three-RBI day as Minnesota beat Anaheim.

In the 10th, Angels reliever Mike James (1-1) walked Greg Myers with one out and Roberto Kelly popped out. Todd Walker then doubled to left field over the glove of third baseman Jack Howell, sending pinch-runner Chris Latham to third. Hocking followed with his game-winning hit.

Blue Jays 5, Athletics 4

Toronto

Otis Nixon had another big game against Oakland with three hits and two RBIs, leading Toronto over the Athletics.

Nixon, who singled home the game-winner in the ninth inning of Wednesday night’s game, delivered the winning single with two outs in the seventh inning.

Indians 4, Red Sox 3

Boston

Jose Mesa earned his first save since being acquitted on a rape charge last week, and Cleveland played through the rain to beat Boston.

Rangers 5, Royals 1

Kansas City, Mo.

Marc Sagmoen’s first major league hit was an inside-the-park home run, helping Texas beat Kansas City for its first-ever sweep at Kansas City.

Sagmoen, an outfielder who made his big-league debut Tuesday night, became the fourth player in history to get an inside-the-park homer for his first hit in the majors.

Orioles 1, White Sox 0

Chicago

Mike Mussina pitched eight sharp innings and Cal Ripken hit an RBI single as Baltimore beat Chicago.

Mussina (2-1) gave up only three hits, walked none and struck out six.

Clearing the bases

The Minnesota Twins placed Paul Molitor on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 14, with an abdominal strain. Molitor was hurt Sunday in a home-plate collision with Kansas City catcher Mike Macfarlane.

Outfielder Jermaine Dye was put on the 15-day disabled list with a foot injury Kansas City officials admit they knew about when they made a trade to get him last month. … Eddie Murray’s next RBI will tie him for 16th place on the all-time list at 1,903 with Willie Mays. … After playing just 12 games in the outfield from 1994-1996, Oakland’s Jose Cansecohas already made 10 outfield starts this season. … Toronto manager Cito Gaston apologized for suggesting earlier in the week that three local reporters were racists. The apology, however, came with a strong qualification. “Whatever has been said, whatever has been written, if it has offended someone and it’s unjustly offended them, I apologize. If it hasn’t, then I don’t apologize.”