Sierra’s Homer Lifts Yankees

Only once in the hallowed history of the New York Yankees had they won, 1-0, during the regular season on a game-ending home run -- until Ruben Sierra came through with two out in the ninth inning Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays at New York.

Sierra’s drive over the center-field wall lifted the Yankees to a dramatic win on a muggy afternoon after Orlando Hernandez gave their pitching rotation a big boost heading into New York’s weekend series at Fenway Park.

“It was very exciting,” Sierra said.

The only previous 1-0 win on a game-ending homer for New York was accomplished by Joe Pepitone with a leadoff shot in the ninth against the Angels’ Hoyt Wilhelm on May 18, 1969.

After the win, the Yankees happily headed to Boston and will start a weekend series with an 8 1/2-game lead over the second-place Red Sox, matching their season high. With Mike Mussina and Kevin Brown still sidelined, Jon Lieber, Tanyon Sturtze and Jose Contreras are scheduled to start against Curt Schilling, Bronson Arroyo and Derek Lowe.

Seattle 4, Oakland 2 -- Bret Boone homered for the second night in a row, hitting a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning at Seattle.

Mark Redman (6-8) lost his fifth start in a row. He settled down after giving up two runs in the first inning, holding the Mariners scoreless until Boone’s homer.

After being swept in the two-game series at Seattle, Oakland will return home to face the Angels. The A’s have lost seven of their last eight and 20 of 27 away from home.

Baltimore 8-0, Boston 3-4 -- Tim Wakefield pitched seven shutout innings five days after a line drive hit his pitching shoulder, and the Red Sox salvaged a doubleheader split at Boston.

The Orioles won the opener behind Melvin Mora’s two homers and four runs batted in, and the pitching of Rodrigo Lopez.

In the night game, David McCarty had a two-run single and Kevin Youkilis hit his fourth homer, ending Baltimore’s four-game winning streak.

Wakefield (6-6) didn’t miss a start after being hit in the right shoulder with a liner in the fourth inning of Saturday’s 5-0 loss to the Angels.

Chicago 3, Cleveland 0 -- Freddy Garcia pitched seven shutout innings, and the White Sox blanked the Indians for the second night in a row at Cleveland.

Garcia (8-8) improved to 4-1 since joining the White Sox, who acquired the right-hander for the playoff drive in a trade last month with Seattle.

Garcia gave up five hits in seven-plus innings, leaving after he walked Omar Vizquel to open the eighth. That’s when things got a little confusing.

Chicago Manager Ozzie Guillen came out to bring in Damaso Marte to face left-hander Travis Hafner.

But first-base umpire Joe West thought Guillen was signaling with his right hand, and West walked to the bullpen to escort right-hander Cliff Politte to the mound instead.

Politte got Hafner to pop out.

Kansas City 13, Detroit 7 -- Mike Sweeney hit a grand slam and a three-run homer at Detroit.

Ken Harvey also homered for the Royals, who ended a three-game losing streak and won for only the 13th time in 44 road games this season.

Sweeney’s slam in the second and three-run homer in the eighth gave him a career-high seven RBIs, matching a club record, and his second multihomer game in 11 days.

Detroit’s All-Star shortstop Carlos Guillen left the game because of stiffness in his back. He is listed as day to day.

Minnesota 7, Tampa Bay 5 -- Michael Cuddyer hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and Nick Punto had a grand slam for the Twins at Minneapolis.

The Devil Rays have lost 12 of 17 since moving a season-high two games over .500 on July 3.