| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
BALTIMORE (AP) -- A couple of newcomers -- and a familiar face -- have proven to be a nice fit with the New York Yankees.
Dwight Gooden won his third straight start since returning to
New York, and David Justice and Paul O'Neill each drove in two runs
as the Yankees capped a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles
with a 4-1 victory Wednesday night.
|
Belle bottoms out as HR slump
hits career-worst 24 games
|
|
Orioles outfielder Albert Belle hasn't homered
since June 29 in Boston, and the slugger's 24-game drought is the longest of his 12-year career.
| |  | |
| Belle |
Manager Mike Hargrove is concerned by Belle's slump, but the
manager knows that Belle -- who had 12 homers and 37 RBI in June to
win league player of the month honors -- is capable of going on a
tear at any time, particularly in the second half.
"Any time a player of Albert's stature goes 100-plus at-bats
without a home run, it causes concern," Hargrove said.
Belle's 18 home runs are second-most on the Orioles behind
Charles Johnson's 20 and his 76 RBI are a team high. Last year,
Belle batted .325 with 33 doubles, 27 homers and 82 RBI over the
season's final 103 games, ending the year on a 15-game hitting
streak.
"Other than the fact that he's only got 18 home runs, his
production has been (OK)," Hargrove said.
Belle doubled in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Yankees and hit into his team-high 14th double play.
|
Gooden (5-3) allowed one run, six hits and three walks in 5 2/3
innings, striking out five. He has given up only five earned runs
in 22 innings, including three starts and one relief appearance,
since being recalled from the minors earlier this month.
"We had no idea what to expect when we called him up. We were
trying to catch lightning in a bottle," Yankees manager Joe Torre
said. "The more he pitches like he did tonight, the more
confidence he gets."
At 35, Gooden isn't the overpowering pitcher he was years ago.
But he's certainly good enough to keep a spot in the starting
rotation, which has also been strengthened by the acquisition of
Denny Neagle.
"I look at these outings as a situation where you can go out
and work hard and have fun every day," he said. "You join this
organization and you join the world champions. By doing that, it
turns you around."
Gooden received hitting support from Justice, who went 2-for-4
with a double. He's batting .333 with four doubles, five homers and
17 RBI in 21 games since joining the Yankees in a trade with
Cleveland on June 29.
"He's swinging the bat really well," Torre said.
|  | | Doc Gooden has given up only five earned runs in 22 innings overall as a born-again Yankee. |
Bernie Williams tripled and walked twice for the Yankees, who
have won four straight and nine of 12. New York outscored Baltimore
27-5 in the series and improved to 7-2 against the Orioles this
year.
Baltimore went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and
3-for-32 in the series. The Orioles stranded 28 runners in the
three games, including 10 in the finale.
"We never could get that big hit that would allow us to
maintain some momentum," manager Mike Hargrove said.
Will Clark had two hits and an RBI for the Orioles, whose fourth
straight loss dropped them a season-high 14 games under .500
(43-57).
Jeff Nelson worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth and
Mariano Rivera, the fourth New York pitcher, got three outs for his
24th save in 27 chances.
Sidney Ponson, who came in with an 8.87 ERA in July, gave up
four runs and eight hits in seven innings. Ponson (5-7) is 0-3 in
his last four starts and has only one win in eight starts since
June 10.
"He gave up four runs, but that's a pretty good hitting
lineup," Hargrove said.
Justice doubled in a run in the first, and Clark tied it in the
Orioles' half with an RBI single.
New York loaded the bases with two outs in the second before
O'Neill hit a two-run single. Shortstop Mike Bordick then made a
fine play on Williams' grounder in the hole to save a run.
Williams hit a shot in the eighth that replays showed hit a pipe
beyond the playing field in center. But the ball bounced back onto
the field and he had to settle for a triple. Justice followed with
a single to right.
Game notes
Derek Jeter went 0-for-3 with a walk, ending his
season-high 13-game hitting streak. ... New York 2B Chuck Knoblauch
has a mild strained right elbow, an examination revealed Wednesday.
He missed a second straight game and is day-to-day. ... New York has
won seven of eight on the road.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
NY Yankees Clubhouse
Baltimore Clubhouse
Surhoff on trade talk: Being home beats contending
RECAPS
Toronto 8
Cleveland 1
Minnesota 0
Boston 0
Kansas City 7
Chi. White Sox 6
Oakland 6
Seattle 1
NY Yankees 4
Baltimore 1
Tampa Bay 6
Detroit 2
Texas 6
Anaheim 5
Houston 3
Cincinnati 2
Pittsburgh 5
Milwaukee 4
Montreal 0
NY Mets 0
Chicago Cubs 14
Philadelphia 9
Atlanta 6
Florida 3
St. Louis 8
Arizona 4
Colorado 11
Los Angeles 4
San Francisco 3
San Diego 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Everything seems to be clicking for David Justice and the Yankees.
wav: 133 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
