AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Cone Wins Debut for Yankees

David Cone won his Yankee debut, thanks to a fly ball lost in the Metrodome ceiling, as New York defeated the Minnesota Twins, 4-2, Saturday night.

Mike Stanley’s easy, bases-loaded pop dropped untouched by center fielder Rich Becker and scored three runs as the Yankees overcame an early 2-0 deficit.

Cone (10-6), acquired Friday from Toronto for three minor league pitchers, pitched eight innings and gave up six hits and two runs. He struck out nine and walked four. John Wetteland pitched the ninth for his 17th save.

“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to be here,” Cone said. “I don’t know if I’ll end up having a future here or not, but I’m pretty damn happy to be here right now.”

Ruben Sierra, acquired from Oakland, had one hit in four at-bats and scored a run in his first game with New York. He batted third as the designated hitter.

Chicago 7, Baltimore 4--Bobby Bonilla failed to hit a ball out of the infield in his debut with the Orioles as the White Sox got two homers from former Oriole Mike Devereaux at Baltimore.

Bonilla, obtained in a trade with the New York Mets, received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd before his first trip to the plate. He proceeded to strike out on three pitches, stranding two runners.

The six-time all-star also grounded out with two out and runners on first and third in the seventh inning with the Orioles trailing, 5-4. Bonilla was 0 for 4 with three groundouts.

Devereaux, who joined Chicago this season after spending six seasons with Baltimore, hit his seventh homer with a man on in the eighth. It was the fifth two-homer game of his career.

Toronto 18, Oakland 11--Alex Gonzalez homered twice and drove in four runs and Devon White and Tomas Perez added three RBIs apiece at Toronto, as the Blue Jays won their fourth consecutive game.

Starter Ariel Prieto (1-4) lasted two innings, surrendering nine runs and seven hits. His replacement, Steve Wojciechowski, fared little better, giving up five runs and five hits in 1 1/3 innings as the Athletics lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Gonzalez, a rookie, hit a two-run homer in the Blue Jays’ seven-run second and added a solo shot when Toronto scored five more runs in the third.

Boston 7, Texas 1--Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield pitched a five-hitter for his seventh consecutive victory and Bill Haselman hit the grand slam of his career to lead the Red Sox at Arlington, Tex. The Rangers lost for the 12th time in their last 13 games.

Wakefield (11-1) baffled the Rangers, striking out seven and walking two in his fifth complete game. The Red Sox have won five in a row and are 24-15 on the road.

Seattle 5, Cleveland 3--Jay Buhner’s grounder and Warren Newson’s double scored runs in the seventh inning as the Mariners defeated the Indians at Seattle.

Chris Bosio (7-5) pitched seven strong innings to break a personal four-game losing streak for his first victory since June 29. Bosio gave up seven hits and three runs. Bobby Ayala pitched the ninth for his 16th save.

Kansas City 5, Detroit 4--Jon Nunnally homered with one out in the bottom of the 16th inning for the Royals’ first extra-base hit after 21 singles in their victory at Kansas City.

Detroit was held hitless over the final nine innings of the 4-hour 35-minute game in which the two teams used 40 players.

Nunnally, who stole home in the sixth inning, homered off John Doherty (5-5) into the left-field bullpen for his 13th homer of the year.