Yankees Win Fifth in Row Over Indians, 9-4

Manager Joe Torre saw two very clear signs Friday night that the New York Yankees are back on track: the velocity of Roger Clemens’ fastball and Paul O’Neill’s helmet.

O’Neill had six runs batted in and Clemens gave up three hits in seven innings as the Yankees pounded the Cleveland Indians, 9-4, at Cleveland.

By winning their fourth in a row after a four-game losing streak, the Yankees maintained their four-game lead over the second-place Boston Red Sox in the American League East and tied the Indians for the league’s best record.

The Yankees have won five in a row over the Indians, who they’ve met in the postseason the last two years and may see again in October.

“It’s nice to be able to offset the four losses in a row,” Torre said. “But we’ve got a great deal of respect for them as they do for us. It’s always just a matter of who pitches better.”

Clemens (13-9) won for the first time in four starts, getting stronger as the game went on. He gave up only one hit over the first five innings, and got four of his six strikeouts in his final two innings.

“The way the guys came out tonight made my job a lot easier,” he said. “I was able to throw some straight changeups, curveballs, and the fastball was good. But I think you have to give credit to our hitters.”

O’Neill went three for five with a two-run homer and two doubles. In his last four games, he has three homers, including a grand slam, and 13 RBIs.

And even in the midst of his huge night, O’Neill, one of baseball’s most intense players, threw his helmet in disgust after bouncing out in the sixth inning.

“He made an out and went berserk,” Torre said. “He’s got that passion back where he thinks he should get a hit every time up. It took that home run to put him where we need him.”

Kansas City 9, Oakland 3--Carlos Beltran became the first rookie in 24 years with 100 RBIs and 100 runs, and Jermaine Dye drove in four runs, as the Royals won in Oakland.

Beltran had three hits, scored three times and drove in a run. He became the eighth rookie, and the first since Boston’s Fred Lynn had 105 RBIs and 103 runs in 1975, to accomplish the feat.

Jay Witasick (8-11) struck out a career-high 10 for the victory against his former team.

The loss dropped the A’s 4 1/2 games behind Boston in the wild-card race.

Boston 14, Detroit 3--Mike Stanley homered and drove in five runs at Boston as the Red Sox continued their winning ways after a successful trip. Boston has won 18 of 23.

The Red Sox, who play nine of their remaining 15 games at home, were 9-3 on the trip that ended Wednesday night. Stanley led the team on the visits to Oakland, Seattle, New York and Cleveland with a .393 batting average and seven walks.

Seattle 4, Minnesota 3--David Bell hit a leadoff home run in the ninth inning to bail out the Mariners’ bullpen at Seattle.

After the Twins scored two runs in the top of the ninth to tie the score, Bell hit a 3-and-2 pitch from Mike Trombley (2-7) over the scoreboard in left field.

It was the 57th home run by Seattle’s middle-infield tandem of Bell and Alex Rodriguez, tying a major league record. Boston’s Bobby Doerr and Vern Stephens did it in 1949-50 and the Cubs’ Ryne Sandberg and Shawon Dunston matched the feat in 1990.

Chicago 7, Toronto 3--Brian Simmons hit a three-run homer at Toronto and Kip Wells won for the third time in his first four starts as the White Sox dealt a blow to the dwindling playoff hopes of the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays have lost three in a row and fell 8 1/2 games behind Boston in the American League wild card race with 14 games remaining.

Tampa Bay 7, Texas 5--John Flaherty homered twice at Arlington, Texas, including a three-run shot in the seventh inning, and the Devil Rays ended their seven-game losing streak.

Jose Canseco homered and drove in three runs for the Devil Rays, who have won three of 12.