Yankees lose, but clinch AL East

NEW YORK -- Baseball returned to the Bronx on Tuesday night with a tribute to the victims of the terrorist attacks and another division championship for the New York Yankees.

The Yankees, playing at home for the first time since the tragedies on Sept. 11, clinched their fourth straight AL East title when Boston lost to Baltimore.

The final score from Fenway Park was posted in the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium, drawing applause from the fans who no longer cared that Tanyon Sturtze outpitched Roger Clemens to give the Tampa Bay Devil Rays a 4-0 win.

Clemens (20-2) lost for the first time since May 20 at Seattle, ending a 16-game winning streak. He did strike out nine batters to move into third place on the career strikeout list.

ORIOLES 12, RED SOX 7

BOSTON -- Tony Batista, Chris Richard and Luis Matos homered as Baltimore beat Boston, eliminating the Red Sox from the division race.

The loss left the Red Sox 14 games out with 13 to play, pending the outcome of the Yankees game against Tampa Bay later.

Boston, which was 17 games above .500 on Aug. 6, is now 75-74 and in danger of falling into third place after losing four consecutive games.

TWINS 4, WHITE SOX 2

CHICAGO -- Doug Mientkiewicz hit a go-ahead single to cap a three-run eighth inning as Minnesota beat Chicago.

Joe Mays (17-13) continued his dominance over the White Sox, running his career record to 6-0. He went seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks.

With the win, Minnesota remains 6 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central. The Indians beat Toronto 11-7.

-- From wire reports