O'Neill returns with homer as Yankees down White Sox

NEW YORK -- Paul O'Neill returned to the lineup in playoff form, hitting a two-run homer that gave the New York Yankees a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.

O'Neill hadn't played since Sept. 7 because of a stress fracture in his left foot. He singled in his first at-bat before homering off Jon Garland (6-7) in the sixth for a 2-1 lead.

That was enough for Mike Mussina (17-11), who allowed one run and five hits in seven innings to win his fifth straight decision. Mussina is 5-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his last six starts.

INDIANS 4, ROYALS 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- C. C. Sabathia became the first Cleveland rookie with 16 wins since 1955, and Marty Cordova homered and tripled, leading the Indians over Kansas City.

The 21-year-old Sabathia (16-5) gave up just two hits in five shutout innings while beating the Royals for the fourth time in five starts. He walked two and struck out five. His ERA in 28 2-3 innings against the Royals is 1.57.

Bob Wickman pitched the ninth for his 32nd save in 35 chances.

TIGERS 9, TWINS 5

DETROIT -- Deivi Cruz drove in three runs, and Eric Munson hit his first career homer to help Detroit defeat Minnesota.

The Tigers improved to just 4-14 against the Twins this year. They trailed 5-2 before getting three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.

RED SOX 10, DEVIL RAYS 3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Derek Lowe got his first win as a starter in four years and Boston beat Tampa Bay.

Lowe (5-10), Boston's former closer, allowed two runs and five hits in six-plus innings. His previous start was June 23, 1997.

Lowe had gone 16 innings -- over his three starts -- without allowing a run before giving up two run in the seventh.

Lou Merloni went 4-for-5, including a two-run single that gave Boston an 8-3 lead in the eighth.

BLUE JAYS 7, ORIOLES 6

BALTIMOR -- Cal Ripken extended the worst slump of his career to 0-for-32 as Baltimore lost to Toronto.

Jose Cruz Jr. homered in a club-record fifth straight game and Felipe Lopez drove in four runs as the Blue Jays rallied.

Before the game, the Orioles acquired outfielder Tim Raines Sr. from Montreal. Raines entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh and Tim Raines Jr. started, enabling the duo to join Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. as only the second father and son to play at the same time on the same major league team.

Raines Sr. went 1-for-2 with a ninth-inning sacrifice fly and Raines Jr. went 2-for-4 with a walk, scoring three runs and stealing a base in his second start.

ATHLETICS 5, RANGERS 4

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jason Giambi hit two home runs, including a tiebreaking blast in the seventh, as Oakland headed to the postseason with a 17-game home winning streak by beating Texas.

Eric Chavez and Miguel Tejada also homered -- giving them 31 apiece -- as the A's won for the 25th time in 29 games.

Cory Lidle (13-6) won his fifth straight start. He yielded six hits and four runs, but got a career-best eight strikeouts.

Over the last 29 games, Giambi is hitting .424 with 10 doubles, nine homers and 24 RBIs.

-- From wire reports