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AL: Bats still all Yanks need

Associated Press
Published August 29, 2004

TORONTO - The Yankees keep solving their pitching problems with offense.

Tony Clark homered three times for the first time in his career, Ruben Sierra hit a grand slam for his 300th homer and Gary Sheffield and Alex Rodriguez also connected to lead New York over the Blue Jays 18-6 Saturday.

"Those are the games where you'd like to score runs, but even in our dugout, you'd like it to come to a stop," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

New York, which overcame a 4-0 deficit for the second time in the series, leads the major leagues with 200 home runs. The Yankees had nine runs and 10 hits in the ninth inning, both season highs, but Sheffield hobbled off after spraining his left ankle while landing on third base. X-rays were negative.

"That was incredibly scary," Torre said. "My guess is he'll miss some time."

Sheffield was able to walk on it after the game.

"I feel pretty good. I don't have a big limp," Sheffield said. "I'll be fine. I'm walking pretty good."

Kevin Brown became the first Yankee starter to win in 14 games since Jon Lieber beat Seattle on Aug. 13. Brown won for the first time in four starts since Aug. 5, allowing four runs, six hits and four walks in seven innings.

"I'm not where I want to be. I'm still a work in progress," Brown said. "Hopefully, I can do a better job than what I did early on tonight."

Mariano Rivera, who entered in the eighth with the score 9-6, finished with what must rank among the biggest leads of his career, getting his 45th save in 48 chances.

New York, which has rallied from four-run deficits in eight victories this season, matched its season highs for runs and homers.

TWINS 7, ANGELS 1: Johan Santana won his eighth straight decision, Jacque Jones and Augie Ojeda homered and visiting Minnesota ended Anaheim's winning streak at nine.

Santana (15-6) allowed one run and four hits in seven innings and struck out six, raising his league-leading total to 213. He is 8-0 with a 1.68 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break and has won 13 of his past 15 decisions.

Santana already has one more victory than any Twins pitcher had last season and is trying to become the first Minnesota left-hander to win more than 15 since John Smiley went 16-9 in 1992.

RED SOX 5, TIGERS 1: Pedro Martinez struck out eight to move into the top 20 on baseball's career list, and host Boston won its fifth straight.

Bill Mueller had three hits and scored twice for the Red Sox, who have won 11 of 12 to take a 11/2-game lead over Anaheim in the wild-card race. The Red Sox have won 17 of 21 and are 19-8 since trading Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs on July 31.

Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, has 2,614 strikeouts, passing Chuck Finley for 20th place.

RANGERS 4, ORIOLES 3: Rod Barajas homered and drove in the tiebreaking run with a sacrifice fly, and host Texas extended Baltimore's season-high losing streak to 12. David Dellucci also homered for the Rangers, who have won 12 of 15 to remain in the West and wild-card races.

WHITE SOX 5, INDIANS 3: Paul Konerko hit a three-run homer and Jose Contreras had another strong start for visiting Chicago. Contreras waited out a 2-hour, 46-minute rain delay, then baffled Cleveland to improve to 4-1 in six starts since being acquired from the Yankees.

MARINERS 9-5, ROYALS 7-3: Former Devil Ray Randy Winn hit a two-run homer in the 12th to lift host Seattle to a sweep. Jolbert Cabrera homered in the fourth and tied it with a run-scoring double in the ninth to rally the Mariners. Bucky Jacobsen drove in three with a home run and a double to lead Seattle in the opener.

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