Cone Puts Yanks On Playoff Verge

American League

David Cone, who’s made a career of getting teams into the playoffs, has put the New York Yankees on the brink of their first postseason berth since 1981.

Working on three days’ rest for the first time in four years, Cone pitched eight strong innings Wednesday and the Yankees beat Milwaukee 6-3 to maintain their 1-game lead over California in the wild card race.

New York closes the regular season with three games in Toronto.

Cone, who developed a blister on the middle finger of his right hand in a win over Detroit Saturday, had to get skin shaved in the sixth inning. But he said the sore actually helped him.

“I felt good. Maybe the blister was a blessing. I was more concerned about that than coming back on three days’ rest,” he said.

Cone (18-8) improved to 9-2 in 13 starts since the Yankees acquired him from Toronto on July 28. He allowed one run and six hits, walked three and struck out five.

Cone had not pitched on three days’ rest since Aug. 25, 1991, while with the New York Mets. He held the Brewers hitless until Fernando Vina singled with two outs in the fifth, and gave up an RBI single to Vina in the seventh.

Rookie Brian Givens (5-7) held the Yankees to one earned run on four hits in 5-1/3 innings. He was replaced by Joe Slusarski with the bases loaded in the sixth. Slusarski appeared to get out of the jam when Gerald Williams hit a twoout fly ball to center.

But Hulse ran into center fielder Darryl Hamilton and the ball bounced off Hulse’s glove, giving New York three unearned runs and a 4-0 edge.

Rangers 11, Athletics 2

Arlington, Texas

Rusty Greer’s three-run homer highlighted a five-run first inning and Kenny Rogers matched a career high with his 16th victory as Texas beat Oakland.

The Rangers kept alive their slim hopes for the franchise’s first playoff appearance in 23 years. Another loss by Texas or a victory by New York will knock the Rangers out of the wild card race.

Indians 9, Twins 6

Minneapolis

Albert Belle and Eddie Murray each homered twice to lead Cleveland over Minnesota, keeping a 100-win season possible for the Indians.

Orioles 7, Blue Jays 0

Toronto

Scott Erickson pitched a three-hit shutout as Baltimore blanked Toronto for the second straight night, giving the Orioles a two-game sweep.

Erickson (13-10) struck out five and walked none in his second straight complete game, his fourth in his last five starts and his sixth this season. His second shutout of the year and the ninth of his career gave him a 4-0 record and 1.47 ERA in five September starts.

Tigers 7, Red Sox 5

Boston

Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield had his third straight poor start as Detroit outslugged playoff-bound Boston.

Wakefield (16-7), who earlier this year was considered a contender for the Cy Young award, is 2-6 with a 6.02 ERA in nine outings since starting the year 14-1. He allowed 11 hits and five runs in seven innings.

Wakefield is scheduled to pitch Sunday at Milwaukee and Game 3 of the playoffs a week from Friday.

White Sox 6, Royals 0

Kansas City, Mo.

Mike Sirotka held Kansas City to three hits in eight innings and Barry Lyons drove in a career-high five runs to lead Chicago.

Clearing the bases

Albert Belle, who hit his 48th and 49th homers, became the eighth player in major-league history to reach 100 extra-base hits. Stan Musial was the last to do it in 1948 with 103. Belle has 12 home runs in his last 10 games. … New York’s Wade Boggs left the game in the third inning after aggravating his aching left hamstring.