Yankees Destroy Radke’s Fine Effort

American League

Brad Radke pitched a perfect 6-2/3 innings Tuesday night but lost his no-hitter, shutout and victory in the span of five pitches in the seventh inning as the New York Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins, 2-0.

Radke (4-8) needed only 35 pitches to retire the first 15 Yankees and 21 more to get the next five outs. But with two outs in the seventh, Paul O’Neill sliced a double down the left-field line for the Yankees’ first hit.

Radke then got two quick strikes on Tino Martinez, who after fouling off a pitch, lined his 12th homer into the lower deck in right field. It was Martinez’s 100th career homer.

Athletics 8, Tigers 5

Detroit

Tony Batista’s first major-league home run was one of five homers hit by Oakland in a victory over Detroit.

Geronimo Berroa, Ernie Young, Mark McGwire and George Williams also homered for the Athletics, who turned four double plays en route to their third straight win.

Detroit pitchers have allowed 119 homers this season, while the Tigers have hit 80.

Rangers 7, Orioles 0

Baltimore

Texas hit five home runs, including four off Kent Mercker in the first three innings, and Darren Oliver limited Baltimore to five singles in a rain-delayed victory.

Oliver went seven innings and Dennis Cook completed the first shutout against the Orioles this season.

A shower stopped the game with two outs in the top of the eighth, and play finally resumed shortly before midnight after a stoppage of 2 hours, 3 minutes.

Brewers 9, Royals 1

Milwaukee

Greg Vaughn hit his 18th and 19th home runs and Jose Valentin had a grand slam as Milwaukee beat Kansas City in a game delayed by rain for nearly 2 hours.

There were fewer than 150 fans left when the game resumed.

Indians 9, Red Sox 7

Cleveland

Omar Vizquel drove in six runs, including the second grand slam of his career, and Cleveland beat Boston in a game delayed nearly 2 hours by rain.

With Cleveland trailing 6-0 in the second, Vizquel homered off Aaron Sele with the bases loaded.

Angels 5, White Sox 4

Anaheim, Calif.

Don Slaught drove in two runs, including the game-winner in the eighth, as California beat Chicago before 19,213 at Anaheim Stadium.

Slaught went 3 for 3, including a double, and has hit safely in 19 of his last 21 starts.

Clearing the bases

McGwire’s homer against Detroit was the 33rd of his career against the Tigers. It’s the most he’s hit against any opponent. … New York has won 41 of its last 47 home games and has not had back-to-back losses in that streak. … Monday’s rained-out contest between Baltimore and Texas will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.