| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) -- With Manny Ramirez healthy and Yankee-killer
Chuck Finley on their side, the Cleveland Indians could be a
difficult October opponent for New York.
|  | | Chuck Finley has a 3.37 ERA in 37 career appearances against the Yankees. |
Cleveland handed New York its second lopsided loss in three
days, as Finley allowed one hit in six scoreless innings and
Ramirez homered and drove in three runs in a 15-4 rout Sunday.
"We have to get there before we can talk about playing the
Yankees," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. "We have our work
cut out just to get there."
The Indians have taken two of the first three games in the
four-game series -- outscoring their potential playoff foe 29-11 --
and hold a half-game lead over idle Oakland in the AL wild card
race.
Despite the loss, the Yankees' magic number for clinching the AL
East dropped to eight with Boston's 5-4 loss at Detroit.
Finley (13-11) signed a $27 million, three-year deal with
Cleveland in the offseason in part because of his success against
the Yankees. The left-hander, who improved to 17-9 against New
York, was sharp, but didn't need to be.
"There are certain teams I do well against and certain teams I
don't," Finley said. "The team I do well against happens to be
the world champions."
By the time Ryan Thompson got New York's first hit with one out
in the fifth inning, the Indians already led 15-0. Finley left
early as Manuel wanted to keep him available as an option to pitch
in the second game of a doubleheader against Boston on Thursday _
one of three twinbills in eight days for the Indians.
The entire Cleveland lineup got involved in the rout except for
Jim Thome, who went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. Every other
starter either scored or drove in a run.
Roberto Alomar had three hits, three runs and two RBI, Kenny
Lofton walked and scored three times, David Segui drove in three
runs and Travis Fryman hit a two-run homer.
Ramirez started the onslaught with a two-run homer in the first
against Denny Neagle (7-5). Ramirez added an RBI double single in
Cleveland's five-run third -- with Alomar scoring from first when
right fielder Jose Canseco misplayed the carom off the wall for an
error.
"That guy is probably one of the most talented hitters ever,"
said Canseco, playing the field because Paul O'Neill is hurt.
"He's just a young kid with great ability and great technique.
He's incredible."
Ramirez has 32 homers and 109 RBI despite playing in only 101
games because of a hamstring injury.
"He's the best all-around right-handed hitter in the league, or
at least one of them," Fryman said. "When he's healthy it changes
the whole complexion of the lineup. He gets a lot of big hits."
Neagle, who had won four straight starts, was knocked out after
Fryman's 21st homer made it 8-0. Neagle allowed eight runs and
eight hits in 2 1/3 innings.
Randy Keisler got tagged for six runs in the fourth as Roberto
and Sandy Alomar each hit two-run doubles.
The Indians scored their final run when Canseco lost Ramirez's
fly to right in the wind, allowing Lofton to score on the two-base
error, drawing boos from the crowd.
"It bothers me when he gets booed because he's doing it for the
team," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "He's played right field
before, but he's a DH. I appreciate him doing this."
The Yankees had gone 136 consecutive innings without allowing
more than two runs in a frame before Cleveland came to town. The
Indians scored six runs in the sixth inning Friday, and had the two
big innings Sunday.
"The offense has so much in reserve," Finley said. "If we
pitch well there's no reason we shouldn't make the playoffs."
There wasn't much for the Yankees' fans to cheer for, other than
scoreboard updates showing the Jets were beating Buffalo. Then
again, the Jets held the Bills to 14 points -- one fewer than the
Yankees allowed.
But they did offer mock applause after Craig Dingman struck out
two straight batters with Cleveland leading 12-0 and after Clay
Bellinger's RBI double highlighted a four-run seventh off Chris
Nichting.
Game
notes
Ramirez's homer was the 230th of his career, second to
Albert Belle (242) on Cleveland's career list. Thome is third with
229. ... New York's Derek Jeter has reached base safely in 41
straight games. ... The attendance of 50,174 pushed the Yankees
past the 3 million mark for the second straight season. ... Finley
has a 3.37 ERA in 37 career games against the Yankees.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
NY Yankees Clubhouse
RECAPS
Detroit 5
Boston 4
Cleveland 15
NY Yankees 4
Oakland 0
Tampa Bay 0
Seattle 3
Baltimore 2
Toronto 14
Chi. White Sox 1
Minnesota 1
Anaheim 0
Texas 6
Kansas City 5
Cincinnati 8
Milwaukee 4
Montreal 5
NY Mets 0
Philadelphia 6
Florida 5
St. Louis 4
Chicago Cubs 2
Houston 5
Pittsburgh 3
San Francisco 5
San Diego 1
Los Angeles 12
Colorado 6
Atlanta 7
Arizona 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Chuck Finley says you have to be on your game when playing New York.
wav: 176 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
