Yanks, O'Leary extend streaks in wins

By baseball standards, there are certainly more impressive streaks, such as those set by Cal Ripken and Joe DiMaggio.

The New York Yankees and Troy O'Leary, though, have plenty to be be proud about.

The Yankees tied a major league record Sunday by playing their 24th straight series and not losing any of them. New York matched the mark by beating Cleveland 4-2 in a set shortened to one game because of rain.

"It was difficult for both teams over the whole weekend," David Cone said after winning for the ninth time in 10 starts. "It was a big series and we've just been sitting around all weekend waiting for it to happen."

O'Leary, meanwhile, posted his sixth consecutive two-hit game. He singled home the winning run in the 10th inning at Fenway Park to lift the Boston Red Sox over Tampa Bay 3-2.

"I got lucky," O'Leary said.

In other games, Toronto beat Baltimore 7-4, Texas topped Anaheim 4-2, Oakland beat Seattle 4-3 in 10 innings, Kansas City defeated Detroit 2-0, Minnesota downed Chicago 2-1.

The Yankees lead the majors with a 47-14 record. They joined the 1912 Red Sox and the 1970 Cincinnati Reds as the only teams to win or split 24 straight series in a season.

"This team is like a machine," said Chuck Knoblauch, who scored one of New York's runs.

The Yankees have lost only one series, dropping their first two games of the season at Anaheim. They can set the major league record in a three-game series that begins tonight at Baltimore.

Cone (9-1) struck out 12 and gave up only four hits in eight innings despite the rain that fell early in the game at Yankee Stadium.

Jaret Wright (5-4), who beat the Yankees twice in last year's playoffs - and touched off a beanball battle with New York in spring training - allowed three runs in six innings.

Kenny Lofton went 3-for-3 and homered for Cleveland, playing its first game since Wednesday.

Red Sox 3, Devil Rays 2, 10 innings

Boston won its fourth in a row when O'Leary singled with one out in the 10th.

Baseball research is incomplete, by the way, on the major league record for consecutive multi-hit games.

Nomar Garciaparra hit a leadoff single against Albie Lopez (2-2) and Mike Benjamin bunted for a single in the 10th. After Reggie Jefferson lined out against reliever Matt Ruebel, O'Leary singled off Jim Mecir.

Wade Boggs had three hits for Tampa Bay, which lost for the ninth time in 11 games.

Rangers 4, Angels 2

Rick Helling pitched eight strong innings and Mike Simms homered and drove in three runs as host Texas stopped its three-game losing streak.

Helling (9-3) gave up home runs to Jim Edmonds and Tim Salmon on consecutive pitches in the fourth, but had no other trouble. He struck out seven, walked one and retired his last 14 batters.

Anaheim, which had won three in a row, loaded the bases in the ninth against John Wetteland. But Wetteland got his 19th save by retiring Garret Anderson on a game-ending grounder.

Athletics 4, Mariners 3, 10 innings

Oakland rallied against Seattle's relievers for three runs in the seventh inning, then won it in the 10th on third baseman Russ Davis' error.

Alex Rodriguez, David Segui and Glenallen Hill homered for the visiting Mariners.

The A's had runners at first and third with one out in the 10th when Mike Blowers grounded to Davis. Scott Spiezio broke for the plate and scored when Davis bobbled the ball.

Royals 2, Tigers 0

Glendon Rusch scattered seven hits in his first major league shutout as Kansas City won at home.

Rusch (4-8), coming off five straight losses, walked none and struck out five. Only one Detroit runner made it past first base.

Johnny Damon homered in the first inning off rookie Seth Greisinger (0-2).

Twins 2, White Sox 1

LaTroy Hawkins pitched seven effective innings and, despite again getting little run support, led Minnesota over Chicago at the Metrodome.

Hawkins (4-6) allowed only four hits and won for the first time since May 23. The Twins average just two runs per game in Hawkins' six losses, but two runs were plenty against the White Sox.

Todd Walker homered on the second pitch of the game from Jaime Navarro (5-8).

Blue Jays 7, Orioles 4

Ed Sprague hit a three-run homer and Roger Clemens struggled for his seventh victory as Toronto beat visiting Baltimore.

Sprague homered off Pete Smith (0-1) in the fifth to give the Blue Jays a 6-4 lead. Clemens (7-6) allowed four runs on six hits and five walks in 5 1-3 innings. Randy Myers pitched the ninth for his 18th save.

Jose Canseco hit his 20th homer for Toronto.

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