AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Olerud’s Streak Stopped at 26

John Olerud was hitless in four at-bats against the New York Yankees Wednesday night at Toronto, ending his hitting streak at 26 games in the Yankees’ 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays.

With runners on first and third in the eighth, Steve Howe got Olerud to hit into an inning-ending double play. Olerud’s batting average dropped to .404.

“I really enjoyed it,” Olerud said of his streak. “It’s not the first oh-fer I’ve had and it won’t be the last. I’m not used to all the media attention, but if it’s a choice between struggling with the media and struggling to get hits, I’d rather struggle with the media.”

Yankee starter Jimmy Key beat Toronto in his first start against his former club, stopping the Blue Jays’ seven-game winning streak.

Key said he didn’t try anything special on Olerud.

“I just tried to move the ball around on him,” Key said.

“The first time up was a check swing that went my way. Next time he swung at a ball and put it in play.

“I thought he hit a ball out of the strike zone in his third at-bat. But he’s been more aggressive this season and tonight he expanded the strike zone a bit and got himself out.”

Key (9-2), who signed with the Yankees as a free agent on Dec. 10, gave up three runs and five hits in six innings, struck out six and walked three.

“It was a funny feeling,” Key said. “I felt like every time I was winding up they knew what was coming. They probably did.”

“I tried to focus on the catcher. I thought if I started looking at those guys I was going to lose my concentration. I was able to do it pretty well.

Steve Farr pitched the ninth for his 18th save.

Todd Stottlemyre (4-5) gave up four runs and nine hits in five innings in his first start since May 22. He struck out six and walked two.

Cleveland 3, Milwaukee 1--Jose Mesa gave up only three hits over seven innings to lead the Indians at Cleveland and hand the Brewers their fifth consecutive loss.

Cleveland’s Kenny Lofton led off the first inning with what was originally ruled an inside-the-park homer. Milwaukee right fielder Tom Brunansky appeared to lose the ball in the evening sun, bobbled it and dropped it while Lofton raced around the bases. No error was originally charged, but about an hour after the game the official scorer changed his ruling to a triple and error on Brunansky.

Wayne Kirby led off the Cleveland seventh with a double and one out later Albert Belle walked. Paul Sorrento’s single to center drove in Kirby and knocked out Milwaukee starter Bill Wegman (4-12).

Boston 3, Minnesota 1--Aaron Sele won his major league debut and sent the Twins to their ninth loss in a row, striking out eight and giving up five hits in seven innings to lead the Red Sox at Boston.

Sele, promoted from the minors Tuesday when Roger Clemens went on the disabled list with a groin strain, kept the Twins off balance by mixing fastballs with sharp curveballs.

Baltimore 6, Detroit 2--Rick Sutcliffe won his sixth consecutive decision and Chris Hoiles hit his fourth home run in three games to lead the Orioles at Baltimore.

Cal Ripken also homered for Baltimore, which moved four games over .500 for the first time this season.

Sutcliffe (8-2), making his first appearance since serving a fight suspension, pitched his first complete game since July 10, 1992, giving up eight hits, walking three and striking out four.

Chicago 7, Texas 4--Frank Thomas hit a two-run homer and rookie Jason Bere pitched well to lead the White Sox at Chicago, giving them a three-game sweep of the Rangers.

The White Sox scored twice in the first inning without a hit against Roger Pavlik (3-4), and Thomas hit his 14th homer in the third after Steve Sax singled. The victory was Chicago’s fourth in a row. The defeat was the sixth consecutively for the Rangers, their longest losing streak since an eight-game slide in June, 1991.

Seattle 8, Oakland 7--A wild pitch by Shawn Hillegas allowed Jay Buhner to score the winning run in the 14th inning at Seattle.

Hillegas’ record dropped to 2-6. The Mariners had tied the score, 7-7, in the bottom of the eighth when Bill Haselman hit a solo home run against Rich Gossage.