Wells Pitches Well, but Relief Falters

David Wells made his debut for New York a good one, but the Athletics got a two-run home run in the eighth inning to beat the Yankees, 4-2, on Friday night.

Wells, who is scheduled to pitch in the series against the Angels that begins Monday, had come to the Yankees as a free agent from the Baltimore Orioles.

He gave up one run on sit hits and struck out eight in seven innings of his first start in pinstripes.

David Weathers came in to pitch the eighth, walked Geronimo Berroa and then gave up Giambi’s first homer since July 26, a 418-foot blast into the right center field bleachers.

New York’s Wade Boggs singled in the first inning, becoming the 50th player in major-league history with 2,700 hits. Boggs is third among active players, trailing only Eddie Murray and Paul Molitor.

Darryl Strawberry went 0 for 3 for New York, making him 0 for 10 this season.

Izzy Molina added an RBI single later in the inning off Jeff Nelson.

Mark Acre, who pitched one-third of an inning, got the win. Billy Taylor got three outs for his second save.

A’s starter Steve Karsay, making his first major-league appearance in three years, gave up two runs and 10 hits in 7 1/3 innings. He had two elbow operations since his previous start, on April 25, 1994.