Teams Working To Win Back Fans

American League

If there is any doubt that major league baseball is scrambling to win back fans, consider what is in store for the Oakland A’s opening night crowd on Friday.

A’s players in uniform will greet fans at the turnstiles to welcome them back after the eight-month strike. After shaking hands, each fan will get a free calendar and then sit back for a mariachi and dance performance on the field to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

Manager Tony La Russa will take the field microphone to welcome everyone back to the Coliseum.

Staying in the game

Toronto manager Cito Gaston won an argument Monday although he, technically, wasn’t even in the game anymore.

At Gaston’s urging, the replacement umpires overruled an out call on Joe Carter in the seventh. Gaston had already been ejected disputing the issue.

Around the A.L.

Brewers first-baseman John Jaha had only one triple in 950 major-league at-bats before his secondinning hit against the Orioles… . David Cone’s loss to the Angels was the first by a Blue Jays starter this season… . Yankees reliever John Wetteland has retired all eight batters he has faced in three appearances.

Yankees 5, Red Sox 3

New York

Jim Leyritz drilled reliever Jeff Pierce’s second pitch to left-center for a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning as New York moved ahead of Boston and into sole possession of first place in the A.L. East.

Angels 2, Blue Jays 0

Toronto

Journeyman pitcher Shawn Boskie pitched eight shutout innings to help California take three of four games from Toronto for the first time since 1991. Boskie and reliever Lee Smith combined to blank the Blue Jays on five hits.

Brewers 7, Orioles 0

Baltimore

Ricky Bones allowed two hits in 7 1/3 innings and Kevin Seitzer went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs as Milwaukee spoiled Baltimore’s home opener before a sellout crowd of 46,523.