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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
TORONTO (AP) – Raul Mondesi inspired his teammates with the
first straight steal of home in Toronto history.
|  | | Toronto's Jose Cruz Jr. robs Jorge Posada in the third inning Tuesday. |
Mondesi made a game-tying steal and Alex Gonzalez hit a two-run
homer as the Blue Jays handed the New York Yankees their third
straight loss, 6-5, Tuesday night.
"Everybody is always looking for something to get motivated by,
and Mondesi sure did it," Jose Cruz said. "I've never seen
anything like it. ... I was hitting, and I couldn't help but laugh,
but it worked out. It tied the game up, and off to the races we
went."
Mondesi broke toward home plate just before New York left-hander
Randy Keisler (0-1) started his windup. Keisler's pitch was high,
and there was no tag as Mondesi stole home for the second time in
his career, tying the game at 3 in the third.
"I just saw the big old bull coming from my left so I just got
out of the way," Cruz said. "Luckily, the pitch was up and away.
He slid in perfectly, and I got out of the away. The pitch wasn't
there. I didn't swing so I didn't kill him. It wasn't rehearsed, I'll tell you that much."
Mondesi said he got the sign from bench coach Cookie Rojas.
"We were down by one run with two outs so it was the perfect
time," Mondesi said. "The pitcher was taking too long to throw to
home plate so I went."
Toronto starter Esteban Loaiza (3-0) pitched six strong innings
for his second victory over the Yankees. Loaiza allowed three runs
-- one earned -- and five hits in six innings. He struck out three
and walked one.
Tony Batista drove in two runs and Cruz homered for Toronto,
which has won three of four against New York this season.
"When you don't pitch or hit you're going to have problems with
every team you play, so I don't think it has anything to do with
the Blue Jays," New York's Derek Jeter said. "They've got a great
team, and if we don't play well they're going to beat us."
Billy Koch allowed a two-run double to Jeter in the ninth before
getting Paul O'Neill to ground out for his fourth save.
The Yankees led 3-0 after two innings, but Toronto tied it in
the third on Gonzalez's first homer and Mondesi's steal.
"That's Raul. That's what he brings to this ballclub,"
Toronto's Carlos Delgado said. "He brings a lot of intensity, and
a little craziness. I thought he could get it, and he got it. That
set the tone for us."
Batista walked off Keisler with the bases loaded in the fourth
to give Toronto the lead. Cruz hit his fourth homer in the fifth to
make it 5-3 and Batista hit an RBI single in the eighth.
The Yankees played the game without center fielder Bernie
Williams, who has missed eight straight games to be with his ailing
father in Puerto Rico.
New York manager Joe Torre was ejected in the fourth inning
after arguing with second base umpire Jerry Meals. Torre became
upset after Toronto's Shannon Stewart wasn't called out on a
stolen-base attempt.
"I said something wrong, and I didn't mean to say something
wrong," Torre said. "I meant to say if you see the replay you're
either going to look like a fool or feel like a fool, and I wound
up calling him a fool, and he threw me out for that."
Chuck Knoblauch doubled and Jeter walked to lead off the first,
and both runners advanced on a groundout. David Justice followed
with an RBI grounder to first, and Jeter scored on second baseman
Ryan Freel's fielding error.
Scott Brosius added an RBI double in the second, extending his
career-high hitting streak to 14 games.
Justice doubled in the third inning, snapping an 0-for-22 slump
-- one shy of his career worst.
Keisler gave up four runs, five hits and seven walks in four
innings.
"He just seemed to get flustered out there," Torre said. "You
have to throw strikes, especially against the Blue Jays."
Game notes
It's the first time Torre was ejected since last Sept. 14,
also against the Blue Jays. ... Torre doesn't know when Williams
will return. Williams' father is suffering from pulmonary fibrosis.
... Mondesi last stole home with the Los Angeles Dodgers on July
26, 1998, against Arizona. ... Brosius has the longest hitting
streak to start the season by a Yankee since Willie Randolph batted
safely in 15 straight games to open the 1986 season.
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RECAPS
Cleveland 8
Baltimore 1
Detroit 7
Chi. White Sox 4
Toronto 6
NY Yankees 5
Boston 10
Tampa Bay 0
Minnesota 6
Kansas City 5
Oakland 5
Anaheim 1
Seattle 6
Texas 4
Philadelphia 6
Chicago Cubs 3
Cincinnati 3
Milwaukee 2
Houston 0
Pittsburgh 0
NY Mets 4
Montreal 0
Florida 3
Atlanta 2
Arizona 17
St. Louis 4
Colorado 9
San Diego 5
San Francisco 3
Los Angeles 2
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