Valentin Collects Cycle For Boston

John Valentin became the 14th player in Red Sox history to hit for the cycle and Boston, despite hitting into a triple play, beat the Chicago White Sox 7-4 Thursday night.

The White Sox had their six-game winning streak stopped.

Valentin hit a two-run homer in the first inning, a triple in the third, a single in the fourth and a double in the sixth. He finished 4 for 4, scored three runs and drove in two. The White Sox pulled their first triple play since 1986, turning the trick on Tim Naehring’s grounder in the first inning.

After the Red Sox scored twice, Mo Vaughn and Jose Canseco drew walks from Joe Magrane (1-2). Naehring then grounded to third baseman Robin Ventura, who tagged the bag and threw to second baseman Ray Durham, who made the relay to first baseman Frank Thomas.

Yankees 8, Blue Jays 1

New York

Andy Pettitte came within two outs of his first shutout in the majors, leading New York past Toronto. Pettitte (9-3) pitched a six-hitter.

Orioles 13, Tigers 6

Baltimore

B.J. Surhoff hit a grand slam and had a season-high five RBIs as Baltimore completed a three-game sweep of Detroit.

Clearing the bases

Jeff Frye became Boston’s ninth different leadoff hitter and seventh different second baseman this season. … Baltimore has 54 homers in 32 home games. The team record for a season is 110, set in 1987.

In the last 35 seasons, only three other Yankees have reached nine wins in the team’s first 55 games, including Tommy John (10-1) in 1979, Ron Guidry (9-0) in 1978, Whitey Ford (9-2) in 1961.

National League:

Dodgers 8, Pirates 3

Los Angeles

Raul Mondesi got three hits, giving him seven straight in the last two games, and emergency starter Tom Candiotti overcame a rocky beginning to pitch 6-2/3 effective innings as Los Angeles beat Pittsburgh.

The loss snapped a season-long four-game winning streak for the Pirates, who failed in an attempt to sweep a series at Dodger Stadium for the first time since 1988.

Rockies 14, Astros 7

Houston

Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla hit two-run homers and Colorado broke out of a batting slump, stopping a four-game losing streak with a win over Houston. The Rockies, batting just .211 during the first nine games of a road trip, had 18 hits in their last outing before returning home.

Giants, Reds, ppd., rain

Cincinnati

San Francisco and Cincinnati were rained out after one scoreless inning. No makeup date was immediately announced.

Lawyers talk Schott

New York

The day after baseball’s executive council set a one-week deadline for a decision on whether to penalize Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott, lawyers for the sides discussed the matter by telephone.

A person familiar with the talks described discussions as preliminary.

If Schott does not agree to give up day-to-day operation of the team by next Wednesday, baseball officials have said she will be suspended for more than one year.

Following the meeting of the ruling executive council, acting commissioner Bud Selig announced the June 12 deadline.

Clearing the bases

Colorado has won only four of its last 17 road games… . Larry Walker, who did not play for the Rockies in Thursday’s game, has one hit in his last 29 at-bats.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Roger Salkeld (2-1, 3.93), who pitched for Saugus Highin Los Angeles and was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the first round of the 1989 draft, is scheduled to start Sunday against the Dodgers… . The Dodgers went over one million in attendance in their 28th game.