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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SEATTLE (AP) -- David Cone is getting closer to where he wants to
be.
Cone pitched 5 2/3 strong innings and Luis Sojo hit a two-run
double as the New York Yankees bounced back from a tough loss by
beating the Seattle Mariners 5-4 Wednesday night.
| | Yankees starter David Cone allowed just one run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings vs. the Mariners. |
One night after being beaten on Edgar Martinez's grand slam in
the eighth inning, the Yankees increased their lead in the AL East
back to five games over Boston.
"I feel good about the way I'm throwing," said Cone (4-11),
who endured a career-worst eight-game losing streak this season.
"I'm definitely on the right track.
Cone was taken out by manager Joe Torre after giving up a
two-out single to Joe Oliver in the sixth. He allowed one run, five
hits and four walks, while striking out six.
"I had good stuff tonight," said Cone, who finished 3-1 in
August after going 0-8 from May-July. "I really was happy with the
way I pitched out of the stretch."
He wanted to stay in the game when Torre came out to the mound,
but he knew there was no point arguing with his manager.
"You can't lobby with Joe," Cone said. "He'd already made up
his mind. So there was nothing I could say."
Said Torre of Cone: "We're building on something. He's been
very consistent."
Seattle lost for the 14th time in 17 games, but remained 2½
games ahead of Oakland in the AL West.
But the Mariners almost posted another dramatic comeback. Mark
McLemore's two-run homer off Dwight Gooden in the eighth cut New
York's lead to 5-3. Then Seattle mounted a rally off Yankees closer
Mariano Rivera.
Alex Rodriguez led off the with a walk and went to third on
Edgar Martinez's single. Martinez is 9-for-11 in his career off
Rivera.
Al Martin struck out, Mike Cameron hit into an RBI groundout and
Raul Ibanez grounded out to end the 4-hour, 8-minute game. Rivera
got five outs for his 30th in 35 chances.
Seattle manager Lou Piniella was upset with Aaron Sele (13-10),
who lasted 3 2-3 innings.
"You would like to think your starters could hold the other
team down early and give your offense a chance," he said.
The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the first on a double by Jorge
Posada, a wild pitch by Sele and Paul O'Neill's sacrifice fly.
They made it 4-0 in the fourth. Bernie Williams singled, David
Justice walked and Tino Martinez hit an RBI double. After Sele hit
Glenallen Hill with a pitch, Sojo doubled to right to score two.
Sojo, playing for the injured Chuck Knoblauch, has hit in 18 of
21 games since rejoining the Yankees in a trade from Pittsburgh
Aug. 7.
"You just have to be ready when they need you," Sojo said.
"When you get your chance, you just hope to play well. It's nice
to be able to contribute."
The Mariners scored in the fifth when McLemore walked, stole
second and came home on Carlos Guillen's single.
After singles by Martinez and Hill off Jose Mesa put runners at
the corners in the eighth, Sojo hit into a double play for the
Yankees' fifth run.
Jose Paniagua hit Martinez with a pitch in the top of the ninth
and Martinez appeared steamed as he walked toward first. Plate
umpire Chris Guccione warned Paniagua and Rivera.
Seattle loaded the bases against Gooden in the seventh on a walk
to Stan Javier, a single by Guillen and shortstop Derek Jeter's
second error of the game. But Gooden retired Martin and Mike
Cameron to end the inning.
Sele, who lost his career-worst fourth straight start, allowed
four runs, six hits and three walks.
Game notes
The Mariners are a major league-worst 9-22 in one-run
games. ... Jeter committed his 19th and 20th errors of the season
in his 118th game. He had 14 errors in 158 games last season. ...
O'Neill returned to RF for the Yankees after missing six games in a
row with a bruised right hip. ... Mariners LF Rickey Henderson left
the game after one inning because of back spasms. He was thrown out
while attempting to steal second in the first. ... Mariners 1B John
Olerud missed his first game of the season because his wife, Kelly,
gave birth to the couple's second child, a girl. He was the only
Mariners' player to play in all of their first 132 games. ...
Despite the loss, the Mariners won their season series against the
Yankees 6-4. It was their first season series win over New York
since 1997.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
NY Yankees Clubhouse
Seattle Clubhouse
Torre not counting on having Knoblauch back
RECAPS
Kansas City 8 Minnesota 7
Chi. White Sox 8 Oakland 3
Tampa Bay 3 Boston 1
Baltimore 5 Detroit 1
Cleveland 5 Texas 3
Toronto 11 Anaheim 2
NY Yankees 5 Seattle 4
Chicago Cubs 5 San Diego 1
Atlanta 5 Cincinnati 2
St. Louis 4 Florida 2
Arizona 7 Montreal 0
San Francisco 2 Pittsburgh 0
NY Mets 1 Houston 0
Colorado 5 Philadelphia 4
Milwaukee 3 Los Angeles 2
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