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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DETROIT (AP) -- Juan Gonzalez went 0-for-6. He would have fit right in with the New York Yankees.
|  | | The Tigers were in a festive mood after toppling the Yankees. |
"It was really tough, frustrating," Yankees manager Joe Torre
said after Tuesday night's 7-6, 11-inning loss to the Detroit
Tigers. "But that's how a lot of this stuff has been."
In another listless performance by the two-time World Series
champions, David Cone was hit hard again, Mariano Rivera lost and
defense proved costly -- with Derek Jeter the culprit this time.
Torre and bench coach Don Zimmer were ejected in the fifth
inning for arguing after an umpire appeared to blow a call on a key
play.
When Bobby Higginson scored on Robert Fick's slow grounder to
shortstop in the 11th, it all added up to the Yankees' eighth loss
in 11 games, the 25th in their last 40.
"We had our opportunities and we didn't score and then I made a
huge mistake," Jeter said.
Higginson singled off Rivera (2-3) leading off the 11th and Shane Halter hit a smash to shortstop that Jeter booted. Higginson, who fell as he rounded second, just made it to third ahead of left
fielder Shane Spencer's throw.
Jeter then threw home on Fick's roller, and Higginson collided
with catcher Chris Turner, jarring the ball loose. But the runner
went back to the plate and touched it, just before Turner was able
to grab the ball and attempt a tag with his bare hand.
"In extra innings, when you get opportunities you've got to try
and take advantage of them," said Higginson, who was 4-for-6 and
scored twice. "You're not going to get many chances against
Rivera."
The final play was scored a fielder's choice, but Jeter felt
like he made another error.
"Maybe if I made the perfect throw, we would've had the chance
to get him," he said.
Nelson Cruz (1-0), recalled earlier this week from Triple-A
Toledo, pitched one inning of one-hit relief as the Tigers improved
to 4-0 against New York at Comerica Park.
"We got a few things going our way," Tigers manager Phil Garner said. "You've got to have a few games like this."
Gonzalez, still with Detroit after a proposed trade to the Yankees fell through Monday, stranded seven runners, including five in scoring position.
Dean Palmer hit Detroit's first grand slam of the season and Tony Clark also homered for the Tigers, who outhit New York 17-15.
The Yankees, who hit 14 singles, had rallied to tie in the eighth
on Paul O'Neill's sacrifice fly.
Cone allowed six runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings, and is
winless in 11 starts since beating Toronto on April 28.
"It's put-up or shut-up time for me right now," Cone said. "I
need to find a way to get it done."
Tigers starter Hideo Nomo allowed three runs, nine hits and five
walks in 5 1/3 innings.
Detroit trailed 3-1 when singles from Luis Polonia and Brad
Ausmus set up Higginson's RBI single to start the fifth.
Clark, who hit a solo homer in the fourth, walked to load the
bases before Palmer sent Cone's 2-1 pitch into the left-field seats
for his eighth career slam, the Tigers' first since Fick connected
last Sept. 27 in the final game at Tiger Stadium.
"Same old story," Cone said. "I'm going along well. ... I
make a huge mistake and it's over."
New York had the bases loaded and one out in the fourth when
Turner hit a hard grounder that second baseman Damion Easley
stopped with a dive before flipping to shortstop Deivi Cruz for a
force.
Turner was called out on Cruz's throw to first by umpire Jeff
Kellogg.
Torre came out to argue the call briefly and returned to the
dugout. He came back after Zimmer was ejected, renewed the argument
with Kellogg and was tossed, too.
"I came back out because he threw him out," Torre said. "He
never cursed. It's this God-like atmosphere these guys throw
around."
Replays indicated Turner beat the throw to first.
New York closed within a run in the seventh on RBI groundouts by
Spencer and Turner off C.J. Nitkowski.
A bases-loaded, double-play grounder from Turner broke a
scoreless tie, and RBI singles by Jose Vizcaino and Jeter gave the
Yankees a 3-0 lead in the fourth.
Clark led off the home half with his 11th home run of the season
and sixth in nine games.
Game notes
Higginson has 25 hits in his last 54 at-bats (.463). ...
Torre was ejected for the first time since June 12, 1999 at
Florida. ... Clark was 2-for-3 for the sixth multihit game in his
last nine starts. He's had 18 of his 25 RBIs in his last 14 games.
... Yankees 3B Scott Brosius, who developed a stiff hamstring
Sunday in Chicago, did not start but is expected back in the lineup
Wednesday. ... The Yankees are 5-10 in Cone's 15 starts.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
NY Yankees Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
Juan-dering over; Yankees turn attention to Sosa
RECAPS
Baltimore 6
Boston 3
Detroit 7
NY Yankees 6
Tampa Bay 11
Toronto 1
Minnesota 7
Chi. White Sox 4
Cleveland 12
Kansas City 1
Oakland 7
Texas 6
Seattle 5
Anaheim 3
Montreal 6
Atlanta 4
Pittsburgh 6
Chicago Cubs 0
NY Mets 5
Florida 2
St. Louis 4
Cincinnati 3
Philadelphia 7
Milwaukee 0
San Francisco 12
Colorado 7
Houston 12
Arizona 4
Los Angeles 5
San Diego 4
AUDIO/VIDEO
 A frustrated Derek Jeter remains optimistic.
wav: 117 k
A concerned Joe Torre knows his Yankees won't quit.
wav: 84 k
David Cone is looking to break out of his slump.
wav: 82 k
According to ESPN's Peter Gammons, the Sosa trade is inevitable.
wav: 519 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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