Blue Jays' Wells Wins 20th Game

T O R O N T O, Sept. 22, 2000 -- After winning his 20th game, David Wells talkedmore about beating his former team than reaching a milestone.

Wells became the majors’ first 20-game winner, pitching afive-hitter to send the New York Yankees to their fifth straightloss, 3-1 to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night.

“It’s always special when you beat those guys,” said Wells, who was traded by the Yankees for Roger Clemens. “They’re my brothers, and it’s tough to leave a team that you love. But even though they’re my close friends, they’re my enemies.”

Wells (20-6), at 37 years and 124 days old, failed in his firstthree attempts to reach the milestone before becoming thesecond-oldest pitcher to win 20 games for the first time.

“It’s something to cherish when you retire,” Wells said. “But we’re in a pennant race and we should be focused on that.”

To ‘Heck’ With the Wild Card

The Yankees matched their longest losing streak of the seasonand have dropped seven of eight. They have been outscored 60-19 inthat span and their lead in the American League East fell to 4½ games overToronto. New York’s magic number remains seven.

“I see a good ball club over there, but they’re very beatable,” Wells said. “They’re not as stellar as they were from ’96-’99. When you put a dent in them like we did the last three games, it shows other teams that they can be beat.”

The Blue Jays, 2½ games behind Cleveland and Oakland in the American Leaguewild card race, swept the Yankees in a three-game series for thefirst time since 1992. Toronto has won four straight overall.

“We need a lot of help and hopefully we’ll get it, and to heckwith the wild card, let’s go for the American League East,” Wellssaid.

Wells, who improved to 16-8 against his former team, pitched hisAL-leading eighth complete game and the 43rd of his career. Hestruck out eight and walked none for his 14th walkless game of theseason.

‘Delight’ in Beating Yankees

“I’m sure he took great delight in beating us,” New Yorkmanager Joe Torre said. “He’s such a great competitor. He’s earned everything he’s got.”

With a man on second and two outs in the ninth, Wells struck outGlenallen Hill to end it. He pumped his left fist five times as hewalked off the mound.

“He seemed really focused,” New York’s Bernie Williams said. “He mixed his pitches, and pitched as good as he can pitch.”

Wells retired the first 13 batters before Jorge Posada hit abloop single to center with one out in the fifth. One out later,Jose Canseco threw his bat at the ball, managing an infield singlefor New York’s only other hit until Williams led off the seventh atowering homer to center.

“I was in a groove, but Jorge got his hit, and that rattledthings up, but then I settled down,” Wells said.

Wells Misses Start

Wells missed Tuesday’s start against New York because of gout inhis right big toe. He took a cortisone shot on Wednesday.

“It was fine,” Wells said.

Carlos Delgado hit his 41st homer for the Blue Jays, who moved aseason-high 10 games over .500.

“David was pretty amazing out there,” Delgado said. “When he’s on, he’s on. He’s got such good control. He’s got a good changeup and breaking ball, so he’s really hard to hit, and he can throw any pitch in any count so that makes it ten times harder.”

Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the third after Shannon Stewartdoubled, and Alex Gonzalez followed with an RBI double.

After Delgado led off the sixth with a homer off OrlandoHernandez (12-12), Brad Fullmer singled and Tony Batista doubled.Hernandez then loaded the bases by walking Darrin Fletcherintentionally before Jose Cruz Jr. hit a sacrifice fly to giveToronto a 3-0 lead.

Hernandez gave up three runs and eight hits in seven innings.

“We’re going to break out of this thing,” Torre said. “We need to generate something, no question.”

Game Notes

Allie Reynolds of the Yankees won 20 for the first time in1952 at the age of 37 years and 228 days. … Wells hasn’t walked abatter in his last 23 innings. … Williams hit his 29th homer. …Canseco went 2-for-3. … Tino Martinez is hitless in his last 24at-bats. … The Blue Jays (7-5) won the season series for thefirst time since 1994.