Royals Continue Drive For Wild Card

American League

Gary Gaetti drove in two runs and Johnny Damon homered Friday night as the streaking Kansas City Royals won their sixth consecutive game, a 5-2 victory that extended the Texas Rangers’ losing streak to five games.

Kansas City led Texas by percentage points in the American League wild card race going into the game. The Royals won three of four against Texas last weekend.

Twins 9, Brewers 5

Minneapolis

Chuck Knoblauch hit a two-run homer and drove in a career-high four runs as Minnesota continued to upset the A.L. wild card race with a victory over slumping Milwaukee.

The Brewers swept four games from Minnesota in Milwaukee last weekend, but haven’t won since. The Twins, with the worst record in the majors, haven’t lost since leaving Milwaukee, sweeping three games from wild card contender Texas before Friday night’s win.

Yankees 8, Athletics 7

New York

Mike Stanley’s bases-loaded infield single in the eighth inning gave New York a win against Oakland.

New York has won five of six after losing nine straight, while Oakland had a three-game winning streak broken.

Indians 14, Tigers 4

Detroit

Jim Thome and Sandy Alomar homered in a five-run fourth and Albert Belle hit a grand slam in the eighth as Cleveland extended its season-high winning streak to nine games.

The win, Cleveland’s ninth in 10 games against Detroit this season, was also the Indians’ 40th come-from-behind victory of the season.

Red Sox 11, Angels 3

Boston

Roger Clemens pitched his seventh straight strong game and California took its season-high seventh straight loss as Boston won.

Clemens, who was 3-3 with a 5.81 ERA before his surge, is 4-1 with a 2.22 ERA since it began.

White Sox 5, Blue Jays 3

Chicago

Frank Thomas and Lance Johnson each hit RBI doubles to lead Chicago past Toronto, the Blue Jays’ fifth straight loss.

Five of the White Sox’s eight hits were doubles.

Clearing the bases

Friday night was the 4,000th game Sparky Anderson has managed in the major leagues. Only Connie Mack (7,755), John McGraw (4,769) and Bucky Harris (4,408) have managed more than the Detroit skipper… . Albert Belle, who hit game-winning home runs in extra innings of Cleveland’s last two games in August, was selected the American League’s player of the month. Boston starter Erik Hanson was chosen the A.L.’s pitcher of the month. In 41 innings, he allowed 41-1/3 hits, walked 16 and struck out 25… . Cleveland activated designated hitter Dave Winfield and outfielder Ruben Amaro from the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-hander Albie Lopez from Class AAA Buffalo… . Toronto center fielder Devon White is likely lost for the rest of the season because of a broken bone in his right foot.