Yankees Show Steinbrenner Some Spunk

The New York Yankees gave themselves a lift Saturday, though not without a fight.

With owner George Steinbrenner in attendance, the two-time defending World Series champions won for only the third time in nine games.

In addition to a 6-1 victory over Tampa Bay at St. Petersburg, Fla., the Boss got to see a bench-clearing brawl, started when the Devil Rays’ Bobby Smith tangled with catcher Jorge Posada after striking out on a check swing.

Order in the seventh inning was restored quickly and no other players entered the altercation as participants. Neither Smith nor Posada, who was wrestled to the ground after shoving the Tampa Bay player, were injured.

“I struck out, and I was walking away and I bumped him,” Smith said. “I don’t know if he thought it was on purpose or whatever, then he shoved me. . . . I don’t have a problem with anyone. I’m a nice guy. He pushed me, and he had no reason to push me.”

Tino Martinez broke a 0-for-15 slump with a single and three-run double, while Orlando Hernandez (7-6) returned to the Yankee rotation after missing two scheduled starts because of a strained right elbow to win for the first time since June 7.

Their performances, however, were overshadowed by the confrontation between Smith and Posada, who were both ejected.

Smith insisted the initial contact was incidental and added neither player said anything to one another. Posada was not available in the clubhouse after the game.

“It looked to me like he got up to throw the ball to third base after the strikeout, and it looked like Smith walked into him, or they met that way,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said. “Then the pushing match started. Then I saw Jorgie reach across, going after him. It was one of those things when you get in the heat of a ballgame, it gets emotional and those things happen.”

Hernandez allowed four hits, including Smith’s solo homer, in 5 2/3 innings to snap a personal two-game losing streak in his first outing since his shortest appearance of the season against the Chicago White Sox on June 18.

Chicago 7, Boston 2--Jose Valentin, making his first major league start in the outfield, hit a bases-loaded triple and the White Sox defeated the sloppy-fielding Red Sox at Chicago.

Valentin, a shortstop starting in right field because Magglio Ordonez has a sore knee, cleared the bases to cap a four-run sixth inning as Chicago won for the 21st time in 28 games.

Mike Sirotka (8-6) allowed four hits and a run in eight innings to win for the fifth time in six decisions.

Baltimore 12, Toronto 5--Harold Baines homered twice, and Will Clark and Charles Johnson also connected at Baltimore as the Orioles defeated the Blue Jays.

Baines hit a solo shot in the third inning and put Baltimore up 10-1 with a three-run drive in the fifth. It was the 13th two-homer game of his career.

Minnesota 4, Cleveland 3--Denny Hocking lined a two-run single in the 10th inning and the Twins rallied at Cleveland to send the Indiand to their fourth consecutive loss.

The Twins scored the tying run in the ninth on Cristian Guzman’s two-out single.

Minnesota starter Brad Radke gave up seven hits and struck out seven in eight innings.

Detroit 8, Kansas City 7--Rob Fick’s RBI single tied it in the ninth, then Ricky Bottalico walked Brad Ausmus with the bases loaded to force in the winning run as the Tigers won at Kansas City, Mo.

Bottalico (7-2) gave up singles to Tony Clark and Dean Palmer starting the ninth as he blew his sixth save in 11 opportunities despite the Tigers’ stranding 16 runners.

Seattle 6, Texas 3--Paul Abbott pitched seven strong innings and Mike Cameron hit a two-run homer as the Mariners won at Arlington, Texas.

Abbott (5-2) allowed one run and seven hits to win his fourth consecutive decision and improve to 3-0 career against Texas. He struck out six in stopping the Rangers’ three-game winning streak.