AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Yankees Continue Saving Their Best for Last, 5-4

A few weeks ago, the New York Yankees were the worst team in baseball.

Today, they are in the middle of a pennant race.

Don Mattingly’s run-scoring single with two out in the ninth inning Friday night at New York gave the surging Yankees a 5-4 victory over the slumping Texas Rangers.

The Yankees have won 10 of their last 14 games, including five in their final at-bat. They are 23-27 and within one game in the loss column of the first-place Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East.

“It’s nice to get our fans involved again,” Mattingly said. “They haven’t had much to cheer about the last few years.”

The Rangers have lost five consecutive games and eight of nine after winning 14 in a row, baseball’s longest win streak this season.

“Things haven’t been going our way lately,” Ranger Manager Bobby Valentine said. “During that winning streak we could do no wrong.”

With two outs in the ninth, Ranger left fielder Juan Gonzalez misplayed Steve Sax’s line drive into a double. Mattingly followed with a single to right off reliever John Barfield (2-1) to make a winner of reliever John Habyan (3-1), who pitched two innings.

Yankee starter Mike Witt, activated from the 60-day disabled list before the game, was cruising with a 3-0 lead in the fifth when Brian Downing broke out of a 1-for-22 slump with his seventh career grand slam that put the Rangers ahead, 4-3.

In five innings, Witt gave up four runs and six hits in his comeback from a sore right elbow that sidelined him with two weeks left in spring training.

“I feel fine,” Witt said. “It was good to be finally able to contribute something. This is a much better team than last season.”

Minnesota 2, Cleveland 0--Allan Anderson allowed only two hits in eight innings at Minneapolis as the Twins won their sixth consecutive game--their longest streak of the season.

Anderson (3-4) walked three and struck out one as the Twins went four games over .500 (29-25) for the first time this season. Rick Aguilera pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save.

Tom Candiotti (7-3) allowed five hits in 7 1/3 innings--including a home run in the second inning to Chili Davis.

The homer, Davis’ 12th, matched his total for all of last season in 412 at-bats for the Angels. Davis leads the Twins with 33 RBIs, 31 runs and 29 walks and is on a pace to set career-best marks in each of those categories.

The Twins scored in the eighth when Jesse Orosco struck out Davis with a wild pitch. The ball went back to the screen, scoring Chuck Knoblauch, who had singled and taken third on a hit by Kent Hrbek.

Chicago 2, Kansas City 0--Charlie Hough and Scott Radinsky combined on a six-hitter at Kansas City.

Hough (3-2), going for only his second shutout in five years, was replaced by Radinsky with two out in the seventh inning. Hough gave up all six Kansas City hits, struck out three and walked none. Radinsky got his first save, striking out two.

Kevin Appier (3-7) gave up five hits while striking out a season-high eight and walking two.

Tim Raines drew a leadoff walk in the fourth, Robin Ventura popped out and Frank Thomas struck out before Dan Pasqua lined a run-scoring double to center.

Raines singled with two out in the eighth, stole second and scored on Ventura’s third hit.

Baltimore 6, Toronto 4--The Orioles took advantage of eight walks for the victory at Baltimore.

Leo Gomez, playing his second game since being recalled from triple A, walked three times and added a run-scoring single to help Roy Smith (3-0) earn the win.

Four of the batters walked by three Toronto pitchers eventually scored, one on a bases-loaded walk issued by Duane Ward.

With the score 3-3, Baltimore took the lead for the first time in the fifth inning against Juan Guzman, making his major league debut. Tim Hulett walked, moved and eventually scored on a single by Dwight Evans.

Gregg Olson struck out Manny Lee with two on in the eighth, then pitched the ninth to earn his 10th save.

Joe Carter hit his 10th homer for the Blue Jays.

Seattle 2, Milwaukee 1--The Mariners got only four singles at Seattle, but Henry Cotto scored twice on groundouts by Tracy Jones to hand the Brewers their fifth consecutive loss.

Bill Krueger (2-2) went 6 1/3 innings, giving up three hits. Mike Jackson got his seventh save by retiring the final seven batters.

Boston 3, Oakland 1--Jody Reed’s two-run single and Mike Greenwell’s sacrifice fly at Oakland helped the Red Sox end a five-game losing streak.

Jeff Reardon pitched the ninth inning for his 15th save, preserving a win for Greg Harris (2-5).

Dave Henderson hit his 14th homer for the A’s.