First things first: Orioles take over lead in AL East

On May 30, the Orioles were 10 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East. Today, they lead the division.

Three things needed to happen last night for the Orioles to move into first place, and all three did. The result: The Orioles hold a half-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees.

The Orioles did their part with a 7-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals. And the Blue Jays and Yankees, who had been tied for first heading into last night's games, did their part, too -- they both lost.

Ben McDonald led the Orioles' victory, pitching a one-hitter. Harold Baines hit a bases-empty home run, and the Orioles staged a six-run rally in the eighth.

The Orioles have won nine of their past 12 games.

The Yankees blew a 5-0 lead in losing to the Seattle Mariners, 9-5. The Blue Jays were shut down by the Chicago White Sox's Alex Fernandez in a 2-1 defeat.

See articles, pages 1D and 6D in Sports.