Pettitte Ties N.Y. Mark With Win

American League

Andy Pettitte became the season’s first five-game winner and Paul O’Neill drove in four runs Sunday to lead the New York Yankees to a 7-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Pettitte (5-0) limited Chicago to just four hits in 7-2/3 innings to become only the second Yankees pitcher to ever record five wins in April. The left-hander walked two and struck out six.

New York pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre won five April games in 1969 and ‘74.

O’Neill hit a three-run double in the third inning off loser Doug Drabek (1-3) and added a solo homer in the fifth.

Wade Boggs started New York’s two-out burst in the third with a single, and Bernie Williams doubled. After falling behind 3-0, Drabek walked Tino Martinez to load the bases for O’Neill, who doubled to deep center.

Frank Thomas homered, his second of the series after he went 75 at-bats without homering to start the season.

Angels 6, Tigers 5 Anaheim, Calif.

Anaheim’s Jim Edmonds singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning.

Luis Alicea singled off Mike Myers (0-2) to start the ninth. Alicea moved to second on Gary DiSarcina’s sacrifice bunt, took third on pinch-hitter George Arias’ comebacker and scored on Edmonds’ drive off the center-field fence.

Royals 7, Athletics 1 Oakland, Calif.

Kansas City’s Tim Belcher came within one out of a shutout, pitching a six-hitter.

Belcher (2-3) allowed only four singles in the first eight innings. Jose Canseco doubled with one out in the ninth and Matt Stairs’ single with two outs spoiled Belcher’s bid for his 18th shutout.

Rangers 7, Twins 3 Minneapolis

Warren Newson broke out of a slump with three hits, including a tiebreaking two-run homer to help Texas to a three-game sweep.

Newson, just 1-for-13 this season and hitless in 10 at-bats coming in, had a run-scoring double in the second, then connected in the eighth off Dan Naulty (1-1) for his first homer of the season.

Red Sox 13, Orioles 7 Baltimore

Bill Haselman homered, doubled three times and drove in four runs to lead Boston.

The teams combined for eight home runs, including five by Boston. Mo Vaughn, Tim Naehring, Troy O’Leary and Wil Cordero also homered for the Red Sox, who salvaged a split of the four-game series.

Eric Davis homered twice and Cal Ripken had a three-run shot for the Orioles. But Baltimore’s bullpen blew a save opportunity for the first time in 12 tries this season.

Brewers 6, Indians 5 Milwaukee

Dave Nilsson singled home the winning run in the ninth inning as Milwaukee rallied from a four-run deficit.

The Brewers were behind 5-3 in the eighth when Nilsson and John Jaha singled off loser Eric Plunk (0-2). They scored on Jeromy Burnitz’s RBI double and Jeff Huson’s double-play grounder.

Clearing the bases

Jason Dickson (4) and Mark Langston (1) are still the only Angels starters with victories… . Sunday’s game was the 400th between the A’s and Royals. The A’s, who were based in Kansas City before their move to Oakland, lead the series 210-190… . Dwight Gooden threw off a mound for the first time since surgery to repair a hernia… . Boston’s Mo Vaughn of has reached base safely in 20 of 23 games.