Yankees Bench Gooden, for Now

David Cone will start the first game of the playoffs for the New York Yankees, with 21-game winner Andy Pettitte pitching Game 2 and Dwight Gooden sitting out the series against Texas, Manager Joe Torre said Saturday.

“If it was wins and losses, Andy would have pitched [the opener],” Torre said. “We are going with Cone because of his experience in the playoffs.”

Meanwhile, Torre said he would leave Gooden off the playoff roster and round out his rotation with Jimmy Key (12-11) and Kenny Rogers (12-8). Teams must choose their playoff squad from the 25 players on the roster on Aug. 31, plus anyone on the disabled list. Changes can be made after each round.

“I’ll just miss the first round and it will give me a chance to work with Mel [pitching coach Stottlemyre],” Gooden said. “When we get to the next round, hopefully I’ll be there.”

Gooden (11-7) lost his first three starts for the Yankees, then won nine of 10 decisions. But the former Cy Young Award winner has won only one game in his last 10 starts.

*

Montreal right-hander Pedro Martinez, who appealed an eight-game suspension Friday in order to start today, dropped the appeal Saturday when the Expos were eliminated from the playoffs. Martinez was suspended Thursday for charging the mound Sept. 24 following two inside pitches from the Phillies’ Mike Williams, touching off a bench-clearing brawl.