Twins trounce Cone, Yanks

By Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 28, 2000

MINNEAPOLIS -- David Cone lost his career-worst eighth decision in a row, pitching five poor innings Thursday night as the Minnesota Twins beat the New York Yankees 9-3.

Denny Hocking had four hits and Cristian Guzman drove in three runs as the Twins won their third in a row.

Rookie Mark Redman (9-4) went six innings to earn his fourth win in a row. Minnesota stopped New York's four-game winning streak.

Cone (1-10) was in trouble from the start as the first five Twins reached in a three-run first inning.

Cone tied season highs by allowing eight runs, nine hits and five walks. He left after the first three batters reached in the sixth.

The Yankees have lost the past 12 times Cone has started, and he is winless in 14 starts since beating Toronto on April 28.

Since pitching a perfect game against Montreal on July 18, 1999, Cone is 3-15 in 32 starts.

Redman leads all AL rookies in wins, strikeouts (87) and innings pitched (1071/3).

Redman started strong, giving up just one hit in the first four innings. He left after walking David Justice to start the seventh, having allowed three runs and six hits.

The Twins wasted no time roughing up Cone. Hocking led off with a double and scored Cristian Guzman's single.

Matt Lawton walked and Ron Coomer's run-scoring single made it 2-0. David Ortiz then walked and Corey Koskie followed with a sacrifice fly.

Lawton's two-run double put the Twins ahead 5-0 in the fourth.

RANGERS 7, TIGERS 3: Juan Gonzalez hit a three-run homer for Detroit in his return to Texas. The players the Rangers got for him did more.

Gabe Kapler and Bill Haselman, acquired by Texas in the Gonzalez trade in November, combined for two homers and four RBI for the host Rangers.

Gonzalez, a two-time American League MVP, homered in the fourth off Ryan Glynn (2-1) for a 3-0 lead but that was his only hit as he went 1-for-3 with an intentional walk.

Texas tied it in the bottom half against Steve Sparks (0-2). David Segui doubled, Kapler homered for the fourth game in a row and Haselman homered with two outs, his first since July 4, 1999.

Kapler doubled leading off the sixth, took third on a groundout and scored on Haselman's single for a 4-3 lead.

Rafael Palmeiro added a three-run homer in the seventh off C.J. Nitkowski, Palmeiro's 27th of the season.

Gonzalez drew a mixed reaction from the crowd of 37,748 in his first at-bat, leading off the second.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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