BASEBALL EXTRA : As Usual, Yankees Win at Cleveland

The New York Yankees’ appearance at Jacobs Field didn’t help the on-again, off-again season the Cleveland Indians are having.

It did put the Yankees 10 games above .500 for the first time--a significant hurdle in the formidable task of catching Baltimore in the AL East.

Tino Martinez hit his 22nd homer and Dwight Gooden had his best outing of the season as the Yankees continued their mastery of the Indians at Cleveland with a 7-1 victory Friday night.

In his second start since coming off the disabled list, Gooden (2-0) gave up three hits and one unearned run in six innings, with two walks and two strikeouts.

The Yankees won their seventh consecutive game at Jacobs Field and improved to 13-2 at the three-year-old ballpark, where they are the only visiting team with a winning record.

“We love coming here,” said Derek Jeter, who had three hits. “They’re a tough team, there are a lot of people here, and we seem to play well here.”

While going 2-13 against the Yankees at Jacobs Field since it opened in 1994, the Indians are 156-65 against everybody else.

“There’s no explanation for why you do well in some places and not in others,” Paul O’Neill said. “In the long haul, it all evens out.”

Milwaukee 7, Kansas City 5--Jeromy Burnitz homered, doubled twice and drove in three runs as the Brewers defeated the Royals at Milwaukee for their fourth consecutive victory.

Burnitz, who was thrown out at third base and at home plate earlier in the game, homered off Tim Belcher (8-7) in the seventh inning to break a 5-5 tie.

Burnitz has provided the key offensive performance in all four of the Brewers wins this week, collecting three game-winning hits--two of them homers--and a perfect bunt that sparked a winning rally.

“Sometimes in baseball you just get opportunities like I’ve had this week,” Burnitz said. “The hits that I’ve gotten have mattered.”

Cal Eldred (7-7) gave up five runs, all earned, on five hits in seven innings for Milwaukee.

Mike Fetters pitched the eighth and Doug Jones worked the ninth for his 17th save.

Detroit 12, Boston 6--Melvin Nieves hit a three-run homer and Phil Nevin added a two-run shot at Detroit as the Tigers ended the Red Sox’s winning streak at four games.

The Tigers, which overcame a 3-0 deficit, had 16 hits, including eight for extra bases. Deivi Cruz had three hits, drove in three runs and stole two bases.

Justin Thompson (7-5) gave up six runs--three earned--and eight hits in five innings with five walked.

Tim Wakefield (2-7) lasted just 2 1/3 innings in his shortest start this season, giving up six runs and six hits.

Minnesota 3, Chicago 0--Marty Cordova hit a two-run homer and three Twin pitchers combined on a five-hitter at Chicago.

After drawing 124,666 for a three-game series against the Cubs, the White Sox drew just 22,043 on a wet night that included a 34-minute rain delay in the seventh inning.

Bob Tewksbury (4-6) gave up three hits in six innings as Minnesota won its third game in a row. Tewksbury, who was taken out following the rain delay, gave up a single to Albert Belle in the second, a double to Mario Valdez in the third, and an infield single to Dave Martinez in the sixth.

“I didn’t feel real strong,” said Tewksbury, whose right shoulder stiffened in the third inning. “Some of my best pitches were below hitting speed. I’ll take movement and location versus velocity any time. That’s what was working.”

Greg Swindell followed with two hitless innings and Rick Aguilera pitched the ninth for his 15th save.

Toronto 3, Baltimore 0--Pat Hentgen pitched a six-hitter for his third shutout this season, leading the Blue Jays at Toronto.

“Obviously you’ve got to have some luck to get the shutouts--balls being hit right at people,” Hentgen said. “I certainly got that. The defense was superb.”

Hentgen (8-3) has not given up a run in 21 consecutive innings. The 1996 AL Cy Young winner struck out four and walked one for his American League-leading sixth complete game.

“I’ve had three pitches working for me lately,” he said. “I’ve been hitting my spots with my fastball, using the change and throwing my curve over for strikes to get me out of a lot of jams.”

Mike Mussina (8-2) lost for the first time in 14 starts, giving up three runs--two earned--and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out five and tied a career-high with six walks.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Jeromy Burnitz

Team: Milwaukee

Performance: 3 for 4, 3 RBIs, 2 doubles, homer

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Ken Griffey Jr.

Team: Seattle

Performance: 1 for 3, 4 RBIs, 28th homer

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Deivi Cruz

Team: Detroit

Performance: 3 for 3, 3 RBIs, double, 2 stolen bases

Team’s Result: Win

PITCHING

Player: Pat Hentgen

Team: Toronto

Performance: 9 innings, 6 hits, 0 runs, 4 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Bob Tewksbury

Team: Minnesota

Performance: 6 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 4 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Dwight Gooden

Team: New York

Performance: 6 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 2 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win