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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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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.
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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
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