Yankees, Newcomers Getting Results

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 consecutive start since returning to the Yankees, 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 at Baltimore.

Gooden (5-3) gave up 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 this month.

“We had no idea what to expect when we called him up. We were trying to catch lightning in a bottle,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said. “The more he pitches like he did tonight, the more confidence he gets.”

Gooden, 35, 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 two for four with a double. In 21 games since joining the Yankees in a trade with the Cleveland Indians on June 29, Justice is batting .333 with four doubles, five homers and 17 runs batted in.

“He’s swinging the bat really well,” Torre said.

Bernie Williams tripled and walked twice for the Yankees, who have won four in a row and nine of 12. They outscored the Orioles, 27-5, in the series and improved to 7-2 against the Orioles this year.

The Orioles went one for 10 with runners in scoring position Wednesday, three for 32 in the series. The Orioles stranded 28 runners in the three games, 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 consecutive loss dropped them a season-high 14 games under .500.

Oakland 6, Seattle 1--Tim Hudson bounced back from the worst start of his career to give up one run in 7 1/3 innings at Seattle.

Hudson (11-3), who gave up nine runs and 12 hits in a 12-3 loss to the Angels on Friday, gave up a run on two hits and a walk in the first inning, then settled down.

He wound up giving up seven hits, striking out five and walking four. Hudson has won 10 of his last 11 decisions, improving his career record to 22-5.

Ramon Hernandez had a two-run homer and a run-scoring grounder against Paul Abbott (6-4) as the A’s closed to within three games of the first-place Mariners in the American League West.

Tampa Bay 6, Detroit 2--Esteban Yan pitched six solid innings, retiring the last 16 batters he faced, and Steve Cox hit a go-ahead two-run homer for the Devil Rays at Detroit.

Fred McGriff hit a two-run single in a three-run seventh inning that broke the game open.

The Devil Rays played without Manager Larry Rothschild, who began serving a two-game suspension for bumping an umpire July 18 against the Atlanta Braves. Bench coach Bill Russell is the acting manager.

Juan Gonzalez of the Tigers came off the disabled list and was one for three with a double, a walk and a run scored. Gonzalez hadn’t played since July 5 because of left ankle inflammation.

Kansas City 7, Chicago 6--Dave McCarty hit a game-tying single against Keith Foulke in the ninth inning and Johnny Damon followed with a go-ahead double at Chicago.

With Chicago leading, 5-4, and two out in the ninth, Todd Dunwoody hit an infield single and Gregg Zaun walked, chasing Bob Howry (1-2).

McCarty greeted Foulke with a single, Damon doubled and Rey Sanchez singled in another run for a 7-5 lead. It was Foulke’s third blown save in 21 chances.

Minnesota at Boston, ppd., rain--The Red Sox’s seventh rainout of the season will be made up Sept. 7.