AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mariners Get Closer With Dramatic Victory

On what was billed as the most important day in the Mariners’ 19-year history, Seattle got a game-tying homer from Doug Strange in the ninth and beat the Texas Rangers, 5-4, in the 11th on Ken Griffey’s RBI single.

The victory moved Seattle within one game of the Angels in the AL West. The Mariners also stayed one game in front of the New York Yankees in the wild-card race.

Griffey lined a 2-2 pitch off the glove of third baseman Luis Ortiz. Strange scored without a play at the plate.

As the game was being won by Seattle in such dramatic fashion, the city awaited the results of a referendum on whether to raise the sales tax to finance a new outdoor stadium.

Cleveland 8, Chicago 2--Albert Belle hit three home runs at Chicago, breaking Al Rosen’s single-season team record and tying a major league record for most homers in two consecutive games.

“Five home runs in two games, that’s hot,” Indian Manager Mike Hargrove said. “I’m glad he’s on our side.”

Belle, who hit two homers Monday night and has 44 this season, had his first three-homer game of the season and the second of his career.

Rosen set the old team record of 43 homers in 1953.

Boston 5, Milwaukee 3--The struggling Red Sox finally clinched a tie for the AL East title at Boston, beating Milwaukee for only their fourth victory in 12 games.

The Red Sox took advantage of catcher Mike Matheny’s problems handling knuckleballer Steve Sparks (8-10). Matheny had four passed balls, although the go-ahead run scored on a third strike wild pitch to Mike Greenwell in the fifth inning that made it 4-3.

Vaughn Eshelman (6-3) pitched four hitless innings before tiring in the fifth.

New York 5, Toronto 3--Rookie Andy Pettitte won his fifth consecutive start and the Yankees took advantage of Juan Guzman’s six walks at New York.

Pettitte (11-8) gave up a home run to Alex Gonzalez to start the game, then blanked the Blue Jays until Joe Carter’s 25th home run in the sixth inning.

Minnesota 7, Kansas City 3--Pinch-hitter Chip Hale’s bases-loaded single broke a seventh-inning tie and Rich Robertson got his first major league victory at Kansas City.

Detroit 7, Baltimore 4--Danny Bautista and Chad Curtis homered at Detroit as the Tigers snapped a three-game losing streak.

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Wild-Card Races

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Division Leaders

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Team Division W L Cleveland* Central 93 41 Boston East 80 53 Angels West 72 62

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Wild Card

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Team W L Pct. GB Seattle 71 63 .530 -- New York 70 64 .522 1 Kansas City 68 65 .511 2 1/2 Texas 68 66 .507 3 Oakland 66 68 .489 5

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NATIONAL LEAGUE

Division Leaders *--*

Team Division W L Atlanta* East 85 49 Cincinnati Central 79 54 Colorado West 71 61

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Wild Card *--*

Team W L Pct. GB Dodgers 70 63 .526 -- Houston 69 64 .519 1 Philadelphia 66 68 .493 4 1/2 Chicago 65 67 .492 4 1/2 San Diego 65 68 .489 5

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* Clinched division title