Williams Ends Slump Against Blue Jays

Bernie Williams tripled home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and the New York Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-3, Tuesday at Toronto for their 10th victory in 11 games.

Williams began the night in a two for 16 slump, but had a triple, double and single Tuesday.

“It’s a great step forward to be where I want to be,” Williams said.

The Yankees have won five consecutive games against Toronto.

Tino Martinez, who had a two-run single earlier, led off the 10th by reaching on first baseman Felipe Crespo’s error.

Williams followed with a triple off Dan Plesac (0-2) over the head of center fielder Jose Cruz Jr. for a 4-3 lead. Tim Raines drove in Williams with a sacrifice fly.

Mike Stanton (1-0) pitched two perfect innings for the win. The Yankees are 8-0 in games which Stanton has pitched.

“It’s a tough loss, especially coming so close to the end of the ballgame,” Toronto shortstop Alex Gonzalez said. “We’re coming close and hopefully down the road we’ll come up on top.”

The Blue Jays tied the score at 3 with two runs in the eighth.

Tony Fernandez led off with a double against starter Ramiro Mendoza, and Jose Canseco hit an RBI double off Jeff Nelson. Ed Sprague singled home the tying run, but Nelson escaped further trouble by striking out Cruz and retiring Gonzalez on a grounder.

Cleveland 14, Chicago 6--David Justice homered and drove in four runs to help the Indians beat the White Sox at Cleveland.

Albert Belle, returning to the park where he displayed an obscene gesture to abusive fans last season, went one for three with two walks. Belle, batting .177, was showered with boos but only minimal debris on this trip to Cleveland.

Kenny Lofton, who teamed with Belle to lead the Indians to their first World Series in 41 years in 1995, was back in the lineup a day after being carted off the field in Boston. The center fielder slipped in the outfield on Monday and was driven off the field in a cart, but didn’t miss a game.

Cleveland starter Chad Ogea came off the disabled list to make his first start of the season, but didn’t make it out of the fifth inning.

Boston 11, Detroit 4--Nomar Garciaparra hit two homers and matched a career-high with five RBIs, as the Red Sox beat the Tigers at Detroit.

It was the second five-RBI game of the season for the 1997 rookie of the year, who led the major leagues with 68 multi-hit games last season.

Reggie Jefferson also homered to help rookie Brian Rose (1-1) pick up his first victory. The Red Sox won their third in a row.

Rose gave up four hits in seven innings, including solo homers by Tony Clark and Luis Gonzalez. Pinch-hitter Kimera Bartee and Damion Easley homered in the Tiger ninth.

Kansas City 5, Seattle 3--Hal Morris and Jeff King delivered run-scoring singles in the eighth inning at Seattle as the Royals ended the Mariners’ six-game winning streak.

The Mariners left the bases loaded in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings.

Seattle lost a run in the first when Ken Griffey Jr. was called out at the plate. He tried to score from second base on Edgar Martinez’s single and accidentally knocked over plate umpire Rich Garcia, who got up and called Griffey out. TV replays showed Griffey was safe.

Oakland 5, Minnesota 4--Kurt Abbott doubled home Mike Blowers in the 12th inning at Oakland for the victory.

Two former Dodgers started the game, with Tom Candiotti on the mound for the Athletics and Mike Morgan pitching for the Twins. Neither man figured in the decision, with Morgan giving up three runs in six innings and Candiotti giving up four runs, one earned, in nine innings.

A.J. Hinch, sidelined for a while last week because of a concussion, hit his second homer for Oakland in the sixth inning.