Gooden and Center Fielder Both Lose It

L.A. Times Archives

Aug. 9, 1997 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Roberto Kelly circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run after his fly ball was lost in the Metrodome roof, highlighting a six-run first inning against Dwight Gooden that led the Minnesota Twins to a 9-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night.

Gooden (5-4) retired only two batters, matching the shortest start of his career. He gave up seven hits, including a routine fly by Kelly that center fielder Bernie Williams did not catch.

The Twins led 2-0 on Greg Myers’ two-run double when Kelly lofted a fly ball. Williams held up his arms in medium center field but lost the ball, which landed 40 feet behind him near the warning track. Kelly scored standing up.

With two out, Rich Becker had an RBI double and Matt Lawton was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Jim Mecir relieved Gooden and retired Paul Molitor on a grounder to end the inning.

Molitor singled in a run in the third and Chuck Knoblauch hit a two-run homer in the fifth that made it 9-0. Molitor and Knoblauch each had three hits.

LaTroy Hawkins (4-7), who gave up eight hits and six runs in four innings in his last start Sunday at New York, yielded one run in 6 1/3 innings. The Yankees finished with 11 hits, but hit into three double plays.

Texas 6, Cleveland 5--Jim Leyritz’s two-run single in the ninth inning lifted the Rangers to a come-from-behind victory at Cleveland and gave pitcher Scott Bailes his first win since 1992.

Bailes (1-0), who retired from the major leagues in 1993 and opened three children’s apparel stores, made a comeback this year with Texas’ triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City after playing semi-pro and winter league ball.

The 34-year-old left-hander pitched 1 2/3 innings before John Wetteland worked the ninth for his 22nd save.

Juan Gonzalez, who had a homer and three hits, led off the ninth against Mike Jackson (2-4) with a single. Jackson then walked Will Clark and hit Ivan Rodriguez before being relieved by Albie Lopez.

Lopez’s first pitch to Leyritz was a passed ball. Leyritz then lined a 1-1 pitch to right to give the Rangers the lead.

Boston 8, Kansas City 2--At Boston, Reggie Jefferson hit a three-run homer to extend his hitting streak to 22 games an Red Sox won a season-high fifth consecutive game,

Rookie Scott Hatteberg had a career-high four hits, including three doubles, and the Red Sox (57-59) climbed within two games of the .500 mark for the first time since May 8 when they were 15-17.

Steve Avery (6-2), a late scratch in his last start because of a stiff neck, gave up two runs on six hits while striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings. Mark Brandenburg pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and struck out five--including three in a row in the ninth.

Toronto 6, Detroit 3--Carlos Delgado hit two two-run homers for the Blue Jays at Toronto.

Delgado’s first homer capped a four-run third inning, and the second--his 24th--came in the eighth off Mike Myers, his first against a left-hander this season. He has four multi-homer games in his career, two this season.

Detroit starter Willie Blair (11-5) had won seven consecutive starts. He gave up four earned runs and nine hits in seven-plus innings, striking out a season-high seven.

Toronto starter Woody Williams (7-10) gave up three runs and 10 hits in seven innings.

Rookie Kelvim Escobar pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save in eight chances. He has not allowed a run in his last 15 1/3 innings

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Carlos Delgado

Team: Toronto

Performance: 2 for 3, two homers, 4 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win

Player: C. Knoblauch

Team: Minnesota

Performance: 3 for 4, homer, 3 RBIs