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Bronx mugging Former Cy Young winners hammered by Detroit
NEW YORK (AP) -- Dwight Gooden was ineffective in his first start in eight weeks. David Cone was even worse in his first relief appearance in eight years. Damion Easley and Bobby Higginson hit two-run homers as the Detroit Tigers pounded New York's former Cy Young winners in a 15-4 win over the Yankees on Monday night "It didn't go very well tonight," Cone said. "I struggled with it." He wasn't alone. On a crisp night when the weather conjured thoughts of playoff baseball, the Yankees played nothing like it in their final scheduled home game of the year. New York, which is 5 1/2 games ahead of Toronto in the AL East, saw its magic number drop to two because Toronto lost 5-1 to Tampa Bay. The Yankees have lost nine of 12 and finish the regular season in Tampa Bay and Baltimore. "We can't sit and worry about Toronto," Derek Jeter said. "We have to play well and get into a good groove before the postseason." Gooden (6-5), in his first start since Aug. 1, resembled the pitcher cast aside by Houston and Tampa Bay earlier this season instead of the one rejuvenated in New York. "I didn't have it tonight," Gooden said. "I got the ball up in the zone and I fell behind guys. It was just one of those nights." Cone was no better out of the bullpen than he's been as a starter. In what could be his final appearance in pinstripes at Yankee Stadium, Cone allowed four runs, five hits and three walks in 1 1-3 innings -- jeopardizing his spot on the postseason roster. "We have a few says to concern ourselves with that," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "I will do everything I can to have him there because of what he means to us." Cone's contract expires at the end of the season and it is uncertain whether the Yankees will resign him. If not for his history, Cone (4-13, 6.74 ERA) wouldn't be under consideration for a postseason roster spot. "I can't say enough about the loyalty Joe and the organization have shown all year," Cone said. "When I look back on this year I won't remember that bad numbers as much as the loyalty." Steve Sparks (7-5) allowed four runs and 10 hits in eight innings, keeping the Yankees off-stride with his floating knuckleball.
The only highlights of the night for New York were David Justice's career-high 41st homer, a two-run shot in the fourth, and Derek Jeter getting his 1,000th career hit. The rest of the night was all Detroit as the Yankees lost by more than 10 runs for the fourth time in 11 games. Juan Encarnacion hit three doubles, Easley drove in four runs, and Wendell Magee added a pinch-hit two-run homer as the Tigers finished with 18 hits. Detroit went 8-4 against New York this year. "I wish we did it against some other clubs too," Tigers manager Phil Garner said. "I'll take it against the Yankees. They are world champions." Easley's 14th homer gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the second inning. The Tigers added three in the third and it could have been even worse if not for a sterling defensive play from center fielder Bernie Williams. Rich Becker led off with a walk and Encarnacion followed with a drive to right-center. Williams tracked it down and made a full-extension dive to rob Encarnacion of extra bases. Higginson followed with an upper-deck shot for his 29th homer. Gooden was replaced by Craig Dingman after Hal Morris' RBI single made it 5-1. Gooden allowed five runs and six hits in 2 2-3 innings. "It was just one of those days," Torre said. "We've had a lot more positives than negatives from him." Cone, who has been ineffective since separating his left shoulder on Sept. 5, started the fourth. He threw only 20 of 49 pitches for strikes, getting the Tigers to swing and miss only twice. Dean Palmer had a sacrifice fly and Billy McMillon and Deivi Cruz added run-scoring singles. "I have to be healthy and throwing the ball well," Cone said. "Certainly I didn't do that tonight." Becker added an RBI double in the fifth to make it 9-3 and Cone was replaced by Randy Choate after Encarnacion walked. Cone got a polite ovation as he walked off the field. "I know he's had a tough year," Garner said. "It is a little hard to watch. He's been a great pitcher." Notes: Justice, who has 20 homers with New York after hitting 21 with Cleveland, is the first AL player to hit at least 20 homers with two teams in the same season. ... Cone, who has 30 career relief appearances, last pitched out of the bullpen on Oct. 4, 1992, for Toronto against Detroit. ... OF Juan Gonzalez had an MRI on his ailing back and returned to Detroit for further tests. ... Jeter went 13-for-18 in the series. ... The Yankees drew 3,227,657 fans this season, second highest in club history. Last year's team drew 3,292,343.
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