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GAME LOG
TORONTO (AP) -- David Wells will get a chance to win his 20th game in Yankee Stadium next week.
Reliever Billy Koch blew Wells' bid to become the first 20-game winner in the majors, but the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit
Tigers 6-5 Saturday on Brad Fullmer's RBI single in the ninth inning.
"I really wanted to win it for Boomer," Koch said. "I let myself down."
Wells, traded from New York to Toronto before the 1999 season, was in line for the win until the Tigers rallied from a 5-4 deficit to tie it in the ninth.
"I've got a few more chances at this," Wells said. "It's not
disappointing at all."
Wells, who loved being a Yankee, is scheduled to pitch in New York on Thursday on Sept. 14.
"I just got to go in there and put some zeros up," Wells said.
"Hopefully the baseball gods will get us a win."
Pinch-hitter Rich Becker led off the Tigers ninth with a single
moved to second on a sacrifice and to third on a wild pitch by
Koch. Brad Ausmus then tied the game with an RBI double.
Koch (7-3), who had converted his previous 21 save opportunities, blew just his fifth chance in 37 chances this season.
But the Blue Jays responded in their half. Alex Gonzalez doubled
and C.J. Nitkowski (4-9) hit Dave Martinez with a pitch. After
Carlos Delgado struck out, Fullmer then lined a ball to left for
the win.
"I left it up, and Fullmer lined it," Nitkowski said.
Fullmer drove in four runs, including a two-run homer in the third, his 30th homer.
"It was a big win because Cleveland won," Fullmer said.
The Blue Jays won their second straight and remained 3½ games behind of Cleveland in the AL wild card race. The Tigers have lost four straight.
Wells didn't allow a hit until Bobby Higginson singled with two
outs in the fourth.
But Wells gave up four runs in the fifth on Deivi Cruz's RBI
double, Damon Easley's RBI single and Juan Encarnacion's bloop
two-run double.
Wells allowed four runs and seven hits in seven innings. He
struck out five, and didn't walk anybody for the 12th time this
season.
"I did my job," Wells said. "I kept my team in the game."
Fullmer's two-run homer in the third gave Toronto a 2-0 lead.
After Detroit took a 4-2 lead in the fifth, the Blue Jays scored three in the bottom half.
Shannon Stewart led off with a single, and Gonzalez chased Hideo
Nomo with a walk. Sean Runyan then loaded the bases by walking
Martinez before Delgado hit a two-run single. Fullmer followed with
a sacrifice fly to give Toronto a 5-4 lead.
Game notes
Wells has issued just 31 walks 202 1/3 innings this season.
... Nomo gave up four runs, three hits, and five walks in four-plus
innings. ... Fullmer went 2-for-3 with a walk and a sacrifice. ...
The Blue Jays have won four straight against Detroit.
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NY Yankees 5
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Cleveland 9
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Detroit 5
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Anaheim 3
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