Detroit Delays Yankees’ Party

The Tigers spoiled whatever little celebration the Yankees had planned.

Damion Easley’s two-run single in the 11th inning prevented New York from clinching a third straight postseason berth Thursday night as visiting Detroit beat the Yankees 9-7.

New York could have locked up a playoff spot with a win because Anaheim lost to Oakland 7-3. As it is, the Yankees are assured of at least a tie for a postseason slot.

Joe Borowski (0-1), making his first appearance since being claimed off waivers this week from Atlanta, walked the bases loaded in the 11th and Easley bounced his single through the left side with two outs.

The Yankees, who will likely win the wild card, had their winning streak stopped at five games.

Athletics 7, Angels 3

Anaheim, Calif.

Scott Brosius doubled twice and drove in three runs to lead Oakland past Anaheim, preventing the Angels from completing a 12-game season sweep of the Athletics.

Brosius and Ben Grieve each doubled home a pair of runs during a five-run fifth inning against Jason Dickson (13-8).

Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 2

Boston

Exactly one year after tying his record of 20 strikeouts, Roger Clemens lost a chance to beat his former team when Jeff Frye’s two-run single in the ninth gave Boston the win.

Clemens struck out 10 and allowed five hits in seven innings, and Paul Quantrill pitched a scoreless eighth. Kelvim Escobar (3-2) struck out Reggie Jefferson to start the ninth, but Boston loaded the bases on Wilfredo Cordero’s single, Troy O’Leary’s walk and Scott Hatteberg’s single.

Then Frye, who was 2 for 2 with a walk against Clemens, lined a single into the left-field corner past Jose Cruz Jr. as pinch-runner Michael Coleman and O’Leary scored easily.

Orioles 4, Brewers 3

Baltimore

Mike Bordick homered and made a key defensive play as Baltimore beat Milwaukee to move a step closer to the A.L. East title.

Mike Mussina (15-7) allowed three runs in six-plus innings for Baltimore, which won for only the eighth time in 21 games. The victory reduced the Orioles’ magic number to five.

Indians 4, Twins 1

Minneapolis

Orel Hershiser rebounded from his worst outing of the year, giving up three hits in 7-1/3 innings as Cleveland beat Minnesota to move a season-best 14 games over .500.

Cleveland dropped its magic number for clinching the A.L. Central to six.

White Sox 9, Royals 2

Kansas City, Mo.

Doug Drabek took a no-hitter into the sixth and Robin Ventura hit his 150th career homer as Chicago beat Kansas City.

Drabek (11-11) didn’t allow a hit until Roderick Myers looped a single to right leading off the sixth.

Around the bases

Yankee Derek Jeter is just the third player in history to score 100 or more runs in his first two seasons. Tony Oliva (1964-65) and Juan Samuel (1984-85) are the others… . New York’s Bernie Williams’ pants looked oversized, and it was later learned he was wearing pitcher David Wells’ pants.