The Associated Press

Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter quickly put themselves back in the picture after missing the New York Yankees’ team photo session.

Wednesday, August 18, 1999

Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter quickly put themselves back in the picture after missing the New York Yankees’ team photo session.

After rankling manager Joe Torre by showing up late, the pair hit RBI singles in a four-run seventh inning Tuesday night to help the New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2.

It was Posada’s 28th birthday, and he spent the afternoon at home with Jeter enjoying a spaghetti lunch.

”It seems like I never get a hit on my birthday,” Posada said. ”It was nice to get one today. It all worked out.”

New York will make up for their absence by digitally inserting them into the team picture. Torre hinted the two players would be fined for their absence.

In improving to 73-45, the Yankees again moved past Cleveland for the best record in the majors.

”We’ve been playing well,” Torre said. ”This is the longest stretch we’ve played this way in awhile.”

The Yankees went on to beat the Royals for the 15th time in 17 games. Mariano Rivera worked the ninth for his 34th save.

Athletics 12, Red Sox 1

Miguel Tejada went 3-for-4 at Fenway Park, including a three-run homer that helped hold Bret Saberhagen to his shortest outing in four years. Oakland moved one game behind Boston in the AL wild-card race.

Ben Grieve and Scott Spiezio also homered as Oakland scored eight runs in the seventh. Spiezio and Randy Velarde each had three of the A’s 17 hits.

Gil Heredia (10-5) allowed one run and 10 hits in the first nine-inning complete game of his career. Saberhagen (9-5) gave up four runs – three earned – and six hits in two innings.

Mariners 8, Blue Jays 5

Edgar Martinez homered twice and Ken Griffey Jr. hit his league-leading 37th as Toronto lost its season-high sixth straight.

Alex Rodriguez’s streak of consecutive games with a home run was stopped at five, three short of the record shared by Griffey (1993), Don Mattingly (1987) and Dale Long (1956). Rodriguez went 1-for-5.

Toronto remained 2 1/2 games behind Boston in the AL wild-card race.

Rangers 15, Indians 4

Juan Gonzalez hit a three-run homer and Tom Goodwin had four of Texas’ 19 hits at Cleveland.

The Rangers scored 23 runs in a seven-inning span, taking a 12-1 lead after three innings.

Aaron Sele (13-7) coasted to his sixth win in seven decisions, allowing all four runs and seven hits in seven innings.

Mark Langston (1-2) lasted just one inning, his shortest outing since Aug. 20, 1997, against the New York Yankees. Langston, who left with a strained quadriceps, allowed six runs – five earned – and six hits as his ERA rose to 5.34.

Carlos Baerga, re-signed by Cleveland on Monday, hit a two-run homer.

Orioles 8, Twins 3

Jesse Orosco pitched in his major league record 1,072nd game, helping preserve the win for Mike Mussina (15-7), who improved to 14-2 against Minnesota by allowing three runs and nine hits in six innings.

Orosco, 42, broke a tie with Dennis Eckersley atop the career list. He entered with two outs in the seventh inning and received a standing ovation from the crowd of 40,485 at Camden Yards.

White Sox 4, Angels 3

Frank Thomas hit an RBI single in the 12th, sending visiting Anaheim to its 25th loss in 31 games. Magglio Ordonez hit a two-run homer for Chicago, which has won five of six.

Tigers 3, Devil Rays 1

Dave Mlicki (8-10) won his third straight start and Dean Palmer drove in two runs as Detroit won for just the fifth time in 20 games.

Todd Jones completed the six-hitter at Tiger Stadium for his 19th save. Bobby Witt (7-9) lost despite his third complete game of the season, an eight-hitter.