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GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) -- Even a new look and the last-place Tampa Bay
Devil Rays couldn't help David Cone get his first victory in almost three months.
Cone lost his career-high seventh straight decision despite
making his strongest start in a month, allowing a home run to Greg
Vaughn as Tampa Bay snapped a four-game skid with a 12-4 rout of the New York Yankees on Saturday.
|  | | It's a Yankees team record David Cone didn't want -- the team has lost the last 11 times he has started. |
"There's nothing encouraging here," Cone said. "I lost.
Again. It's a broken record. I wasn't good enough today. That's all
there is to it."
Cone, known for his imaginative pitches, arm angles and windups,
tried yet another new approach: the modified El Duque. Cone wore
his socks high and used a high leg kick similar to Orlando
Hernandez.
"I'm in search mode looking for something that works," Cone
said. "It was a somewhat tribute to my idol El Duque. I'm just
searching for something."
While the results were better, it wasn't good enough to stop the
longest dry spell of his career. Cone (1-9) is winless in 13 starts
since April 28, and the Yankees have lost the last 11 times he has
started, a team record.
The right-hander allowed three runs and six hits in six innings,
the fewest runs he's allowed since giving up one June 16 to
Chicago. He fell to 3-14 with a 5.81 ERA in 31 starts since
pitching a perfect game against Montreal last July 18.
"It's a ball of confusion right now for me," he said. "I have
no problem forgetting what has happened because it's been a
nightmare."
The Yankees' bullpen collapsed after Cone left, allowing nine
runs with help from shoddy fielding, costing Cone a chance at a
no-decision.
"David Cone pitched better than our bullpen without question,"
manager Joe Torre said. "He was a lot better. His fastball had
more life on it."
Ryan Rupe (2-4), who entered the game with a 9.39 ERA, shut down
the Yankees after they scored 11 runs in the series opener. He
allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings in his first career
appearance against the World Series champions.
After losing his first four decisions this year, Rupe has beaten
pennant winners Atlanta and New York in his last two starts.
"I just tried to stay ahead of them," said Rupe, whose parents
made their first trip to New York to watch him. "They are a very
patient team. I fell behind a couple of hitters but I felt I did a
pretty good job."
The Devil Rays scored 10 runs and batted .203 during their
four-game skid. When Cone struck out the first two batters he
faced, it looked like he might have found an opponent he could
beat.
Vaughn then drove a 3-1 pitch to left-center for his 16th homer.
Jose Canseco drew a leadoff walk in the second and scored on Miguel
Cairo's single.
The Yankees tied it on an RBI single by Chris Turner in the
second and a solo homer by Chuck Knoblauch in the third.
Cone retired 12 of 13 hitters before Fred McGriff singled with
two outs in the sixth and stole his first base since April 18,
1999. After a walk to Canseco, McGriff scored on a single by Steve
Cox.
After a two-run single in the seventh by Russ Johnson made it
5-2, the Yankees drew within one on RBI singles by Derek Jeter and
Paul O'Neill. Mark Guthrie struck out Bernie Williams with two
runners on to end the threat.
Williams argued with home plate umpire Terry Craft that the foul
tip hit the dirt and Guthrie jawed at Williams as he walked off.
Williams started after the left-hander before Craft and first-base
coach Lee Mazzilli pulled him back.
The Devil Rays iced it with seven in the eighth, highlighted by
a rare three-run single by McGriff. With a full count and two outs,
McGriff grounded a single to center. When Williams was slow getting
the ball back into the infield, Johnson scored from first ahead of
Knoblauch's relay.
"I got to third and I'm not shutting it down until I see the
third base coach (Billy Hatcher)," Johnson said. "And he never
shut me down so I just kept coming."
Game notes
The Devil Rays lost 17 of their first 18 meetings against the
Yankees, but are 7-7 since. ... Knoblauch, who hasn't made an error
since June 28, nearly threw a ball away in the fourth. His lob to
first pulled Tino Martinez off the bag, but Martinez scrambled to
touch first before Cox. ... Cairo went 3-for-4 with two RBI for
his first multihit game since June 9. ... The Yankees have homered
in nine straight games, tying a season high.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
NY Yankees Clubhouse
RECAPS
Kansas City 8
Detroit 5
Detroit 10
Kansas City 6
(2nd game)
Oakland 10
Anaheim 3
Seattle 13
Texas 5
Baltimore 8
Toronto 2
Tampa Bay 12
NY Yankees 4
Boston 8
Chi. White Sox 6
Minnesota 10
Cleveland 6
NY Mets 4
Atlanta 0
Cincinnati 7
Arizona 3
Houston 10
St. Louis 5
Chicago Cubs 3
Milwaukee 2
San Francisco 5
Los Angeles 2
Montreal 17
Florida 7
Pittsburgh 2
Philadelphia 1
Colorado 9
San Diego 4
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