Indians’ Williams Does Job

Matt Williams might as well have stuck a tee in the ground Friday when he led the Cleveland Indians to a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in 10 innings at Cleveland.

Williams, who had a home run taken away when it was called foul in the sixth inning, golfed a game-winning, broken-bat single on a 0-and-2 pitch with the bases loaded in the 10th.

“I hit a nine-iron,” Williams said. “Did you see that ball check up? Of course, I don’t know if I would have made the putt.”

Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove watched the winning hit from the clubhouse. He was ejected in the sixth when the umpires reversed their call on Williams’ home run and ruled it had gone foul.

“When you sit and watch the work he puts in to get out of this slump or rut or whatever, you feel good to see him succeed,” Hargrove said of Williams, who had been two for 16 in bases-loaded situations.

New York 5, Texas 2--Dwight Gooden rebounded from his worst start of the season with six solid innings and Bernie Williams drove in two runs at New York. It was the Yankees’ sixth win in seven games.

New York first baseman Tino Martinez had three hits.

Gooden (6-4) gave up two runs and four hits, striking out five and walking three. He had control problems, going to a full count on six batters and 3-and-1 against three others.

Last Friday, Gooden lasted two-thirds of an inning and gave up six runs on seven hits.

Mariano Rivera worked the ninth for his major league-leading 38th save.

Before the game, the Yankees activated Darryl Strawberry, who spent four months on the disabled list. Strawberry, 35, was put on the disabled list April 11 because of fluid on his left knee, and had arthroscopic surgery June 25.

Designated hitter Pete Incaviglia was given his unconditional release.

Boston 5, Minnesota 4--At Boston, Reggie Jefferson singled home the winning run in the 10th inning and the Red Sox handed the Twins their seventh consecutive loss and 10th in 11 games.

Minnesota rallied in the ninth, scoring twice to tie the score, 4-4, but the Twins wasted a leadoff triple by Denny Hocking in the 10th.

Mo Vaughn opened the Boston 10th with a double off the left-field wall against Eddie Guardado (0-4). Jefferson followed with a single to center that knocked in pinch-runner Mike Benjamin.

Oakland 11, Chicago 6--Matt Stairs hit a three-run home run and Jason Giambi added a solo shot to lead the A’s at Chicago.

Stairs hit a home run in a five-run fifth and Giambi homered in the seventh, both connecting for the second consecutive game. Mark Bellhorn had two RBI doubles for Oakland, which has won three games in a row and seven of nine.

Jimmy Haynes (1-2) won for the first time in five starts, giving up four runs and five hits in five innings.

James Baldwin (8-13) gave up eight runs and seven hits in five-plus innings.

Kansas City 5, Detroit 3--Bip Roberts hit a two-run double and the Royals scored four unearned runs in the second at Detroit.

It was Kansas City’s third victory in 11 games.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Mike Cameron

Team: Chicago

Performance: 3 for 4, two home runs, 4 RBIs, 2 runs

Team’s Result: Loss

*

Player: Alex Rodriguez

Team: Seattle

Performance: 2nd game: 3 for 4, home run, 2 RBIs, 3 runs

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Matt Stairs

Team: Oakland

Performance: 2 for 5, double, home run, 3 RBIs, 1 run

Team’s Result: Win

*

PITCHING

Player: S. Kamieniecki

Team: Baltimore

Performance: 7 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 7 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Randy Johnson

Team: Seattle

Performance: 8 innings, 4 hits, 3 earned runs, 13 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Loss

*

Player: Dwight Gooden

Team: New York

Performance: 6 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 5 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win