Cruz Tags 3rd Homer For Jays

Jose Cruz Jr. hit his third home run in six games with the Blue Jays and made a key defensive play to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-3 victory Wednesday night over the Cleveland Indians.

Cruz hit his 15th home run - a solo shot to right - with one out in the seventh off loser Albie Lopez (3-5) to break a 3-3 tie.

In the eighth, with runners on first and second, Cruz charged Sandy Alomar’s single to left and made a perfect throw to the plate to easily cut down David Justice with the potential tying run.

Pat Hentgen (12-7) allowed three runs on 11 hits over seven innings to earn the victory.

Angels 8, Brewers 6

Anaheim, Calif.

Jack Howell hit a tiebreaking two-run double and Tony Phillips homered as Anaheim beat Milwaukee for its ninth victory in 11 games.

Allen Watson (10-6) won for the ninth time in 12 decisions.

Red Sox 5, Twins 2

Minneapolis

Tim Wakefield, working on just three days’ rest, struck out seven and didn’t allow a walk in seven innings as Boston beat Minnesota.

Wakefield (6-13), who pitched seven innings Sunday at Kansas City, replaced scheduled starter Steve Avery, scratched because of a stiff neck.

Rangers 6, Yankees 2

Arlington, Texas

Mike Simms, playing because Juan Gonzalez was in Puerto Rico on personal business, singled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and added a sacrifice fly in the eighth as Texas beat New York in a game twice-delayed by rain.

Will Clark reached the 1,000-RBI plateau with a sacrifice fly in the eighth for the Rangers.

Royals 5, Tigers 4

Kansas City, Mo.

Jose Rosado won for the first time in nearly two months and Jay Bell hit his 19th home run, leading Kansas City to victory over Detroit.

Athletics 3, White Sox 2

Oakland, Calif.

Rafael Bournigal had a tie-breaking, two-out single in the seventh inning as Oakland beat Chicago for only its second victory in 11 games.

Clearing the bases

Plate umpire Ted Hendry had to leave the Texas-New York game after he was cut in the head in a freak accident in the bottom of the eighth inning. Hendry was bending over to clear a bat away from home plate when he was hit by New York catcher Joe Girardi’s discarded mask. The mask cut Hendry in the forehead and scalp and required seven stitches to close. … The Anaheim Angels are 44-30 since re-acquiring Tony Phillips in a May 18 trade with the Chicago White Sox. … Twins designated hitter Paul Molitor (3,129 career hits) needs 13 more to catch former Milwaukee Brewers teammate Robin Yount for 14th on the career list.