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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CLEVELAND (AP) – There are few things in baseball that compare
to beating the New York Yankees, whether it's on May 25 or the
middle of October.
|  | | Jaret Wright gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings in his second start of the season. |
Just ask the Cleveland Indians.
"There's not a better feeling," Indians reliever Paul Shuey
said. "No that I've experienced. They carry an aura with them,
they are always hard to beat."
Jim Thome hit a two-run homer, Juan Gonzalez and Jacob Cruz
added solo shots and the Indians passed their first tough test this
season Friday night with a 6-4 win over the New York Yankees.
Facing their first opponent with a winning record since the
season's second week, the Indians pounded New York starter Orlando
Hernandez (0-5) and improved to 20-6 since April 26.
Despite the blazing start, it took Cleveland until Friday night
to move into sole possession of first place in the AL Central.
Minnesota lost 4-2 to Oakland to fall one game behind the Indians.
Still, the Indians' soft schedule to this point has given some
reason to doubt Cleveland's legitimacy.
"I figure we can hold our own with anybody," Indians manager
Charlie Manuel said.
Rich Rodriguez (2-0) pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the
fifth as once again the Indians' bullpen came through and improved
its major league-leading record to 11-3.
Steve Reed pitched through the sixth and Shuey struck out four
in two innings. Bob Wickman closed it out, striking out three
left-handers with a runner on first for his ninth save.
"Our bullpen was amazing again," Thome said. "They've been
doing that all year."
Derek Jeter, who struck out in consecutive innings against
Shuey, sees one major change in this Cleveland team.
"Their bullpen," Jeter said. "Especially Shuey, shut us down.
I don't see much difference in their team except the bullpen is
pitching real well."
Thome's eighth homer, a towering shot to right, gave the Indians
a 6-3 lead in the fifth off Hernandez, who is now winless in nine
starts and dropped to 0-4 in five regular-season starts at Jacobs
Field.
Hernandez was tagged for six runs and nine hits in four innings.
He is the first Yankees pitcher to go winless in nine starts since
Fritz Peterson went winless in his first 14 in 1967.
Thome has always hammered New York pitchers, and hit four homers
in the 1998 ALCS against the Yankees.
"Thome usually does not leave it to guess work," Yankees
manager Joe Torre said. "He usually paints the facade."
Cleveland's Jaret Wright got a no-decision in just his second
start of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery last August
and beginning the year in extended spring training.
Gonzalez's 13th homer gave the Indians a 3-0 lead in the third.
Gonzalez drove a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left-center for his
21st homer in 54 career games at the Jake.
David Justice, in his first game back at Jacobs Field since
being traded to New York last season, hit an RBI double in the
fourth to bring the Yankees within 3-1. But the Indians got it back
in the bottom half on Omar Vizquel's RBI single.
However, Wright's wildness allowed the Yankees to close within
4-3 in the fifth.
After Scott Brosius doubled, Wright got two quick outs before
giving up an RBI single to Derek Jeter and Paul O'Neill's single.
Wright walked Bernie Williams to load the bases and forced in a run
by walking Tino Martinez on a 3-2 pitch.
Wright was pulled for Rodriguez, who got Justice to ground out.
Wright allowed six hits and walked five in 4 2-3 innings but was
pleased with his outing.
"I felt a lot calmer and I had a better breaking ball," Wright
said. "I'll take it."
Game notes
Yankees reliever Brian Boehringer pitched 2 2-3 scoreless
innings before leaving with a slight groin sprain. ... New York's
Alfonso Soriano walked for just the second time in 183 plate
appearances this season in the sixth and for only the third in 242
in his career. ... Before Cruz's homer, Hernandez had not given up
a first-inning run in 12 starts. ... Thome's 241st homer moved him
within one of Albert Belle's club record. ... In a 2-1 win over
Boston on Thursday, Yankees starter Mike Mussina and Red Sox ace
Pedro Martinez each struck out 12. It was the first time New York
had been involved in a game where each starter struck out at least
12 since Sept. 17, 1963, and it was just the fifth time it has
happened in the majors since 1972.
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OTHER GAMES
Baseball Scoreboard
NY Yankees Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
RECAPS
Baltimore 7
Texas 6
Boston 4
Toronto 0
Cleveland 6
NY Yankees 4
Chi. White Sox 8
Detroit 4
Anaheim 6
Tampa Bay 4
Seattle 9
Kansas City 6
Oakland 4
Minnesota 2
Chicago Cubs 1
Milwaukee 0
St. Louis 5
Cincinnati 4
Philadelphia 10
Montreal 8
NY Mets 4
Florida 3
Atlanta 1
Pittsburgh 0
Arizona 7
San Diego 1
Los Angeles 4
Houston 1
Colorado 6
San Francisco 1
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