Gooden Sharp Again in 7-3 Yankee Victory

The suspense ended early for Dwight Gooden. His success story, though, is still going strong.

In his first start since pitching his first no-hitter, Gooden gave up a hit three batters into the game and then went on to win his third consecutive start Tuesday night, pitching the Yankees over the Oakland Athletics, 7-3, at New York.

Jason Giambi’s two-out double in the first inning took away any chance Gooden had of matching Johnny Vander Meer’s double no-hitters in 1938 for Cincinnati.

“When I took the mound, I wasn’t thinking it,” Gooden said. “It’s kind of like impossible. I guess it’s been done, but I wasn’t thinking about doing it again.”

Gooden and New York Manager Joe Torre were both a bit glad that Oakland got an early hit.

“I wouldn’t say you’re happy the guy had the hit, but once I got the third out in the inning, it was a sense of relief,” said Gooden, who pitched seven innings, struck out seven and walked only one. “I could just go out and pitch the ballgame.”

Tim Raines hit a leadoff home run for the Yankees and Wade Boggs, playing for the first time since May 15 because of a bad back, had three hits.

Kansas City 7, Detroit 1--Doug Linton beat the Tigers for his first victory in nearly two years, leading the Royals at Detroit.

Detroit has lost seven consecutive games and 27 of 31. For the first time in 19 games at Tiger Stadium this season, the visiting team failed to hit at least one home run.

Linton got his first victory since June 17, 1994. He gave up one run and four hits in six innings, struck out five and walked one.

Seattle 13, Boston 7--At Boston, Ken Griffey Jr. became the seventh-youngest player to hit 200 homers and Jay Buhner homered for the fifth consecutive game for the Mariners.

Griffey’s three-run home run and Buhner’s two-run homer came in a six-run fourth inning that wiped out Boston’s 5-4 lead.

“A lot of guys didn’t get as early a chance to get to the big leagues as I did,” said Griffey, who was a rookie at age 19. “I don’t want to think about the Hall of Fame. Whatever happens, happens.”

Edgar Martinez had four hits and Griffey, Rich Amaral and Alex Rodriguez three each for Seattle, which finished with 19.

Cleveland 6, Milwaukee 5--Julio Franco’s homer off Marshall Boze with two outs in the ninth inning gave the Indians a victory at Cleveland and ended the Brewers’ five-game winning streak.

Cleveland scored three runs in the seventh inning for a 5-4 lead, but Milwaukee tied it in the eighth on consecutive doubles by Dave Nilsson and Matt Mieske.

Chicago 2, Toronto 1--Frank Thomas had an RBI double and Darren Lewis drove in the go-ahead run with a ground out as the White Sox won, despite getting only two hits at Chicago.

Thomas doubled in the first inning off Jeff Ware, and Lewis doubled in the third. Kevin Tapani, Matt Karchner and Roberto Hernandez combined on a five-hitter for Chicago.

Minnesota 4, Texas 3--At Minneapolis, Rich Becker capped a two-run rally in the ninth inning with a sacrifice fly, stopping the Twins’ four-game losing streak and sending the Rangers to their fourth loss in five games.

With one out in the ninth and Texas leading, 3-2, Scott Stahoviak doubled off Mike Henneman and scored on Chuck Knoblauch’s RBI double to tie the score. Becker then hit a fly ball to left field. Lou Frazier’s throw to the plate was high and pinch-hitter Chip Hale, who had walked, scored.