Royals Get Slicker In Wild Card Race

American League

In the middle of the A.L. wild-card race, the Kansas City Royals are creating new ways to win and their manager is inventing new words to describe the task ahead.

“It was huge for us today and tomorrow is going to be more huger. That’s the way it is as you go down to the wire,” manager Bob Boone said after Michael Tucker’s two-run double in the ninth gave the Royals a 5-4 win Thursday over the Oakland Athletics.

Tucker, who earlier had an RBI single and went 3 for 4, hit his lead-changing double off Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley.

Eckersley (4-5) walked pinch-hitter David Howard and Keith Lockhart to begin the ninth. It was the first time Eckersley walked consecutive batters this season.

Both runners advanced on Greg Gagne’s long fly to center and scored on Tucker’s shot over right fielder Jose Herrera.

Jim Converse (1-3) got four outs for the Royals. Jeff Montgomery pitched the ninth for his 29th save.

Indians 5, Red Sox 3 Cleveland

Orel Hershiser won for the seventh time in eight decisions and Manny Ramirez reached 100 RBIs as Cleveland beat struggling Boston.

Boston lost for the sixth time in seven games. The Red Sox are 1-7 at Jacobs Field since the park opened last year.

Yankees 5, Orioles 4 Baltimore

Andy Pettitte won his fourth straight start as New York moved into a first-place tie in the A.L. wild-card race by beating Baltimore.

Bernie Williams homered for the Yankees, whose eighth win in 10 games put them even with idle Seattle in the chase for a playoff spot.

Rangers 6, Blue Jays 1 Toronto

Bobby Witt pitched seven-hit ball and struck out 12 over eight-plus innings as Texas improved its wild-card position with a win against Toronto.

Brewers 6, Tigers 3 Detroit

Rookie knuckleballer Steve Sparks struck out a season-high 10 and John Jaha and Fernando Vina homered as Milwaukee defeated Detroit for its first win in six games at Tiger Stadium this season.

Clearing the bases

New Jersey has drafted a proposal to build a 50,000-seat baseball stadium in the Meadowlands sports complex for the New York Yankees, The New York Times reported… . Tickets for the Cleveland Indians’ first playoff games in more than 40 years will be available only by telephone, and fans may only buy up to four tickets for one game per call.