MLB
  Scores
  Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries: AL | NL
  Players
  Weekly Lineup
  Message Board
  Minor Leagues
  MLB Stat Search

Clubhouses

Sport Sections
  Thursday, Jun. 22 7:05pm ET
Batista goes deep twice for Toronto
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

TORONTO (AP) -- David Wells thinks the Blue Jays are better than New York, even if the Yankees wind up acquiring Juan Gonzalez.

Wells became baseball's first 12-game winner and Tony Batista homered twice as the Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 7-4 Thursday night.

Toronto and New York are a half-game behind first-place Boston in the AL East.

"They're not playing like they've played the last couple of years. I think we're better," Wells said. "It doesn't matter who they acquire."

The Yankees and Tigers agreed Thursday to a tentative trade that would send Gonzalez to New York. He would have to waive his no-trade clause, then agree to a contract extension within a 72-hour window.

Asked if he's made up his mind, Gonzalez said yes. He wouldn't reveal his decision, but when asked what are his favorite cities, he said: "A quiet city. A nice place."

Wells (12-2) has won five straight decisions. The 37-year-old left-hander, traded by New York after the 1998 season, allowed two runs -- one earned -- and seven hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

"I was flat but effective," Wells said.

Batista, acquired from Arizona last season, has 44 home runs and 133 RBIs in 163 games with the Blue Jays. He hit a solo shot in the fourth and a two-run homer in the eighth to raise his total to 18 this season.

"He's had a marvelous 163 games for us," Toronto manager Jim Fregosi said.

Shannon Stewart also homered for the Blue Jays, who have homered in a club-record 20 straight games.

Hideo Nomo (2-7) pitched his first complete game since Aug. 26, 1998, when he was with the New York Mets. He went the distance Thursday despite giving up seven runs and eight hits.

Wells walked Damion Easley starting the game, and put the next batter aboard with a throwing error. Easley then scored on Bobby Higginson's double-play ball.

Toronto made it 2-1 in the bottom half on Carlos Delgado's RBI single, and Brad Fullmer's run-scoring double. Alberto Castillo's sacrifice fly in the second made it 3-1.

Tony Clark homered in the third to bring Detroit within 3-2, but Batista's first homer of the game and Stewart's solo shot in the fifth inning made it 5-2.

Detroit scored its final two runs on RBI groundouts by Tony Clark and Deivi Cruz off reliever Billy Koch in the ninth.

Game notes
Arizona traded Batista and RHP John Frascatore to Toronto on June 12, 1999, in exchange for LHP Dan Plesac. ... Wells has won 11 of his last 13 starts. ... Delgado extended his hitting streak to 16 games. ... RHP Roy Halladay, demoted to the minors on May 16, will be activated in time to start for the Blue Jays on Saturday. ... Detroit LF Higginson dropped a fly ball for an error in the sixth inning. ... Clark has eight home runs. ... Gonzalez went 1-for-3.

 


ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard

Detroit Clubhouse

Toronto Clubhouse


RECAPS
Boston 4
NY Yankees 2

Toronto 7
Detroit 4

Chi. White Sox 6
Cleveland 0

Minnesota 3
Texas 2

Anaheim 4
Kansas City 3

Seattle 11
Baltimore 4

Atlanta 6
Chicago Cubs 4

Milwaukee 6
Florida 1

Montreal 6
Pittsburgh 5

NY Mets 5
Philadelphia 4

Cincinnati 5
Colorado 3

Houston 6
Los Angeles 3

St. Louis 11
San Francisco 10