The California Angels figured their streak of comeback wins would come to a close. What they want to know is when Jim Abbott's slump will end.
Abbott lost again Sunday as the Angels fell to the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4. California had won seven in row, rallying from behind each time.But even two home runs by Tim Salmon could not save California. Joe Carter and Ed Sprague hit two-run homers off Abbott, and the Angels did not recover.
Abbott dropped to 1-10 with a 7.67 ERA. He is winless in eight starts, going 0-6 in that span, after allowing eight hits and five runs in 5 1-3 innings.
Abbott also remained winless in 13 home starts since the Angels re-acquired him in a trade with the Chicago White Sox last July 27.
"But I did feel I had better command, a better slider, and threw some good fastballs on the inside part of the plate," he said.
"This is just another aspect of life. Whether I'm 1-10 or 1-50, it doesn't define who you are," he said.
Carter homered for the third time in three games, hitting his 16th home run in the first inning. Sprague hit his 17th home run for a 5-1 lead in the sixth.
Salmon and Chili Davis homered in the sixth, marking the ninth time this season that California has hit consecutive home runs.
Yankees 5, Indians 4
Andy Pettitte won his fifth straight start and New York salvaged a four-game split with Cleveland in a meeting of division leaders in front of 51,180 fans at Yankee Stadium.
Bernie Williams had four hits and Tino Martinez drove in three runs, helping the Yankees take an early 5-0 lead.
Pettitte (11-3) joined Charles Nagy of the Indians as the top winners in the AL. John Wetteland struck out Julio Franco with runners on first and second to end the eighth inning, and finished for his 18th save.
Red Sox 10, Rangers 9
Reggie Jefferson hit a three-run homer in the ninth, lifting Boston over Texas at Fenway Park.
Mo Vaughn and Jose Canseco, who each had four hits, opened the ninth with singles off Mike Henneman (0-5). After a wild pitch, Jefferson hit his sixth home run.
Henneman has blown five save opportunities. Despite an 8.06 ERA, he's tied for third in the league with 18 saves.
Twins 4, Tigers 1
Rick Aguilera recorded his first win as a starter since 1989 as Minnesota defeated Detroit.
Aguilera (1-1), the Twins' career saves leader, had not lasted more than three innings in his first two outings, and began the game with a 19.50 ERA. He'd also been on the disabled list twice with tendinitis in his wrist.
Against Detroit, however, he pitched seven innings and allowed only four hits, including a home run by Chad Curtis. Aguilera struck out seven and walked one.
Mariners 7, White Sox 6
Edgar Martinez hit two more doubles and drove in four runs as Seattle won at the Kingdome.
Martinez leads the majors with 36 doubles. The major league record is 67 set by Earl Webb of the Red Sox in 1931.
For the second straight day, Chicago's Tony Phillips was ejected in the ninth inning for arguing a called third strike. He was restrained by manager Terry Bevington and teammates as he tried to get at plate umpire Al Clark.
Athletics 10, Brewers 9
Mark McGwire became Oakland's career RBIs leader with a double that keyed a three-run rally in the ninth inning at County Stadium.
McGwire, with 790 RBIs, moved past current Milwaukee general manager Sal Bando.
Orioles 13, Royals 5
Brady Anderson hit two home runs, including a near-record leadoff homer, and drove in five runs for the visitors.
Anderson, who also hit a two-run single and has 11 RBIs in his last six games, reached Tim Belcher for his eighth leadoff homer, putting him one short of the single-season record Rickey Henderson set in 1986.