Rangers Sweep Doubleheader, Ruin Gooden’s Yankee Debut

Dwight Gooden went to the mound Sunday to begin rebuilding his once-proud career, and he got off to a pretty good start.

But he ran into the Texas Rangers, who are off to a great start.

Texas spoiled Gooden’s first big-league appearance since June 1994 with two home runs in five innings en route to a 7-2 victory over New York in the first game of a doubleheader. In the nightcap, the Rangers victimized the Yankee bullpen for a 4-1 victory.

With the sweep, Texas (6-0) matched its best start in club history.

“We’ve gotten good pitching, good defense and timely hitting,” Ranger Manager Johnny Oates said. “For six straight games, we’ve done things about as well as we can do them.”

Gooden was hoping to do things the way he did earlier in his career when he pitched for the New York Mets.

But Gooden (0-1) didn’t have enough.

“I lost the game, but overall I’m pleased,” said Gooden, who gave up five runs on five hits, struck out seven, walked four and hit a batter. “I was happy with the velocity and I found my curveball.”

Mickey Tettleton found one of Gooden’s curves with two on in the fifth and homered to break open a 2-1 game. Gooden’s former New York Met teammate Kevin Elster hit a solo homer in the second.

“I know I’m getting a lot closer,” Gooden said. “Take out the two mistake pitches and it was a one-run game.”

Ken Hill (2-0) was the winner, giving up two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The nightcap was a 1-1 game for seven innings as Roger Pavlik (2-0) matched David Cone.

But Steve Howe (0-1), who relieved Cone, and Jeff Nelson, who followed, faltered in the eighth and the Rangers scored three runs.

Oakland 7, Detroit 6--Geronimo Berroa hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Athletics finished their stay in Las Vegas with a flourish.

The A’s, who pulled their first triple play in 13 years earlier in the game, went 2-4 while playing at Cashman Field. They were forced to move for the first week of the season because of construction at the Oakland Coliseum.

Chad Curtis hit a solo home run in the ninth, giving the Tigers a 6-5 lead against Jim Corsi.

But Brent Gates singled to open the Oakland half and, after Jason Giambi flied out, Berroa homered off Brian Williams. Berroa’s shot was the 23rd home run hit in six games at the park.

A crowd of 9,723 watched the game. Attendance for the six games at Cashman Field was 54,986, including sellouts in the last three. Capacity is listed at 9,353, although there are grassy hills down both lines where fans can sit.

A leaping catch by center fielder Ernie Young started Oakland’s triple play in the third inning.

Alan Trammell was on second and Curtis was on first, and both were running when Bobby Higginson hit a long drive. Young robbed Higginson of extra bases, holding the ball after crashing into the wall.

Young threw the ball back to Brent Gates, who relayed to Giambi covering at second for the second out. Giambi then threw to catcher Terry Steinbach covering at first for the third out.

Seattle 3, Milwaukee 1--Sterling Hitchcock won with a two-hitter over eight innings at Seattle and the Mariners scored twice on three wild pitches in the eighth inning.

Hitchcock gave up an infield single in the fifth inning and a bunt single in the sixth. He struck out seven and walked three.

Norm Charlton got one out in the ninth and Mike Jackson finished up for his first save.

Cleveland 8, Toronto 3--Albert Belle hit two of Cleveland’s four home runs as the Indians’ offense finally started up at Cleveland.

Manny Ramirez had three hits, including a home run and a triple, and Carlos Baerga also homered for Cleveland, which won its second consecutive game after an 0-3 start.

Kenny Lofton had a stolen base that made him the Indians’ career leader, drove in two runs and made a spectacular catch in center field.

Dennis Martinez overcame a shaky second inning and earned the victory, giving up three runs and seven hits in seven innings.

Boston 3, Kansas City 1--The Red Sox avoided their worst start in 69 years, becoming the last major league team to win a game.

Jose Canseco homered for the second time in three games at Kansas City, and Jamie Moyer pitched well into the eighth inning. Boston, which started the season 0-5, hadn’t lost its first six games since 1927.

Heathcliff Slocumb got the last three outs for his first save.

After the game, the Red Sox announced that their home opener scheduled for today against Minnesota was postponed until Tuesday because of forecasts of rain and snow.

Baltimore 4, Minnesota 2--Mike Mussina pitched eight strong innings and Bobby Bonilla homered at Minneapolis.

Mussina gave up seven hits, including Paul Molitor’s leadoff homer in the seventh inning. He struck out eight and walked one.

Randy Myers pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save.