| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Chuck Finley wasn't the Yankee killer. Jeff
Nelson's walks are what did New York in.
Nelson walked four batters in the ninth inning, forcing home the
winning run with a two-out pass to Roberto Alomar as the Cleveland
Indians finally beat New York, rallying for a 3-2 victory Saturday.
|  | | Enrique Wilson scores the Indians' second run of the game in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by Kenny Lofton. |
Pinch-runner Jolbert Cabrera scored the winning run when Nelson
(6-1) lost his control in the ninth, throwing 12 balls among his
final 14 pitches, including a wild pitch.
Richie Sexson homered in the seventh for the Indians, who came
back from a 2-0 deficit to snap a four-game losing streak against
New York this year.
"I liked that ball four at the end," Indians manager Charlie
Manuel said of his first win since returning from colon surgery.
"I thought it was beautiful. I came into the locker room and the
guys were jumping around. It was very important for us to beat
them."
Finley, who owns a 16-9 mark against New York, kept the Indians
close for nearly seven innings. But he was gone when the Indians
rallied to end a five-game losing streak at Jacobs Field against
New York.
Yet even with the win, the Indians are just 10-25 against the
Yankees at their home park.
"It's about time we beat the Yankees," Omar Vizquel said.
Enrique Wilson, who scored the tying run in the seventh on Kenny
Lofton's sacrifice fly, drew a one-out walk in the ninth against
Nelson. Lofton then walked on four pitches with two outs, and
Cabrera ran for Wilson.
Nelson's wild pitch put the runners at second and third before
Vizquel walked on four pitches as Nelson struggled to find the
plate.
"I didn't give myself much of a chance," Nelson said. "I just
kept missing. I never try and walk guys. I was just missing. I
tried to find it and I just couldn't."
Nelson got ahead of Alomar 1-2 before throwing three straight
balls, the final 3-2 pitch a high and tight fastball that just
missed hitting Alomar. It was the first run allowed by Nelson in 13
appearances over his last 14 1/3 innings this year.
"I was just looking for a good ball to hit, and that wasn't
one," Alomar said.
Paul Shuey (3-1) struck out two in the ninth for the win.
Right fielder Manny Ramirez made two sensational catches for the
Indians, who before Sexson's homer had managed just four singles
off New York starter David Cone.
"I'm mad at myself," said Cone, who took a shutout into the
seventh. "I expect to hold the lead late in the game. I had the
lead and just didn't get the job done."
Sexson led off with his fifth homer, belting an 0-1 pitch over
the wall in left. Sexson slowed down on his way to the plate to
talk with third-base coach Jim Riggleman and then stared into the
Yankees' dugout when he crossed home.
As it turns out, Sexson thought he had missed first base and was
worried the Yankees might appeal.
"I didn't feel it when I crossed first," Sexson said. "And
when I got near second, I thought, 'Did I touch it?' "
Wilson followed Sexson's shot with a double off Cone that left
fielder Lance Johnson just missed with a diving attempt. Einar Diaz
sacrificed and left-hander Mike Stanton replaced Cone.
Lofton, a lefty, fell behind 0-2 to Stanton before poking an
outside pitch deep enough to left to score Wilson.
Cleveland's rally kept Finley from losing his fourth straight
start and preserved his record and reputation as a Yankees killer,
which was one of the biggest reasons the Indians signed him to a
three-year, $27 million contract this winter.
"Maybe I'll call (Indians GM) John Hart and tell him we beat
the Yankees, 'Can I take the rest of the season off?' " said
Finley, who allowed eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Ramirez, known more for his hitting prowess, made two defensive
games behind Finley.
In the fifth, he raced to the warning track to catch Jim
Leyritz's liner. At full speed, Ramirez extended to snare the ball
before running into the fence in front of New York's bullpen and
threw the ball back in to double up Jorge Posada at first.
The next inning, Ramirez made an overhead catch on Alfonso
Soriano's drive to right-center. As the crowd rose to give him a
second standing ovation, Ramirez shrugged as if to say, "No big
deal."
"I was kind of awed by that first catch," Manuel said. "He
played a great game out there."
Paul O'Neill and Shane Spencer drove home New York's runs.
Game notes
The Yankees were 17-0 when leading after six innings. ...
Spencer left in the fourth inning with a stiff left hamstring and
will sit out a couple games. ... Indians RHP Jaret Wright, placed
on the 15-day DL on Thursday with a strained muscle in his right
shoulder, will throw off a mound on Sunday. If he doesn't have any
setbacks, Wright will make his next start on May 27 at Chicago. ...
Posada made his fourth career start at first base.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
NY Yankees Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
RECAPS
Detroit 2
Boston 1
Cleveland 3
NY Yankees 2
Minnesota 3
Oakland 0
Tampa Bay 4
Seattle 3
Chi. White Sox 6
Toronto 2
Texas 2
Baltimore 1
Anaheim 9
Kansas City 8
NY Mets 8
Arizona 7
Cincinnati 5
Chicago Cubs 3
Los Angeles 12
Florida 6
Montreal 8
Houston 7
Colorado 4
Philadelphia 3
St. Louis 19
Pittsburgh 4
Atlanta 10
San Diego 6
Milwaukee 7
San Francisco 0
|
