Yanks’ Homers Bedevil Boston

American League

Paul O’Neill led off the eighth inning with a disputed home run and Don Mattingly later connected for a no-doubt drive over the wall, rallying the New York Yankees past Boston 5-3 Thursday at New York.

The Red Sox, playing for the second straight game without injured Jose Canseco, led 3-2 after home runs by Mo Vaughn and Tim Naehring.

O’Neill opened the eighth with a line drive that cleared the fence in right-center, ricocheted off a concrete retaining wall and bounced back onto the field. O’Neill went into his home-run trot as he rounded first base, but the umpires - the regulars, not the replacements - originally ruled the ball was in play and held him at second as the relay came in.

O’Neill threw up his hands in disbelief and twirled his finger, indicating a home run. Yankees manager Buck Showalter rushed onto the field to argue and the four umpires, after a brief consultation behind the mound, agreed that it was indeed a homer.

A’s 9, Angels 6

Anaheim, Calif.

Geronimo Berroa and Terry Steinbach homered to lead Oakland over California in a game delayed by a bench-clearing brawl when Oakland’s Jim Corsi hit Tim Salmon, who had homered earlier.

Royals 6, Twins 0

Minneapolis

Kevin Appier (3-0) pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out 12, and Greg Gagne and Phil Hiatt homered as Kansas City beat Minnesota.

Tigers 4, Indians 3

Detroit

David Wells (1-1) shut down Cleveland, and Kirk Gibson and Bobby Higginson homered during Detroit’s win.

Orioles 5, Brewers 2

Baltimore

Harold Baines drove in two runs and Baltimore, taking advantage of nine walks, rallied to beat Milwaukee.