It's Boos for Irabu in Yankees' 9-7 Loss

It’s Boos for Irabu in Yankees’ 9-7 Loss

L.A. Times Archives

July 27, 1997 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Hideki Irabu learned two more American baseball lessons Saturday: The Seattle Mariners are tough, and so are Yankee fans.

Irabu lasted only two innings against the Mariners, who hit four home runs in their fourth consecutive victory, a 9-7 victory against the Yankees in New York.

Jose Cruz Jr.’s three-run homer and a two-run shot by Alex Rodriguez off Irabu (2-2) in the second gave the Mariners a 6-0 lead and ended the Japanese pitcher’s day after only 41 pitches.

Irabu’s fourth start was by far his most unimpressive. He had trouble finding the strike zone from the beginning, and was finished after yielding six runs and four hits, leaving to boos from the crowd of 54,664.

“I’m not surprised,” Irabu said of the crowd’s response. “That’s the way it is. I just have to take it because my performance was not up to their expectations.”

Still, New York Manager Joe Torre said he is confident the Yankees didn’t waste their $12.8 million in signing the so-called “Nolan Ryan of Japan.”

“To throw somebody in the garbage after a couple of shaky starts is unfair,” said Torre, who added he’s considering using Irabu in relief.

The Yankees’ Tino Martinez hit his 34th and 35th homers to take over the major-league lead from Mark McGwire, and Paul O’Neill hit a three-run homer.

Jay Buhner and Ken Griffey Jr. added homers for Seattle.

Toronto 6, Kansas City 5--Benito Santiago homered twice--including the game-winning shot in the eighth inning--as the Blue Jays beat the Royals at Toronto for their fifth victory in a row.

Shawn Green tied the score with a three-run home run in the eighth and Santiago followed with his second of the game.

Kansas City’s Dean Palmer, acquired from Texas for Tom Goodwin on Friday, went two for four with three runs batted in.

Baltimore 2, Minnesota 1--B.J. Surhoff’s sacrifice fly in the 12th inning lifted the Orioles over the Twins at Minnesota.

Jesse Orosco (3-2) got the final out in the 11th, and Randy Myers pitched the 12th to record his 28th save in 29 chances.

Twin starter Shane Bowers pitched 5 2/3 excellent innings in his major-league debut, yielding one run on four hits and getting a standing ovation when he left with the bases loaded and the score tied, 1-1, in the sixth.

Jimmy Key, whose 2.67 earned-run average coming in was fourth-best in the American League, gave up eight hits, and he allowed a runner in each of his seven innings. But he gave up only one run, Roberto Kelly’s third-inning homer.

Texas 4, Chicago 1--Ranger pitcher Darren Oliver overcame the oppressive heat while White Sox starter Wilson Alvarez had to deal with the weather and the possibility this was his last game with the White Sox.

Oliver combined with three relievers on a five-hitter to lead Texas at Chicago.

Even though the White Sox are only 4 1/2 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central, Alvarez has been mentioned in trade rumors as the Thursday deadline approaches.

Oliver (7-10) won his fourth game in his last six starts, giving up four hits in 6 1/3 innings while walking two and striking out two.

Milwaukee 3, Detroit 1--Bryce Florie pitched five shutout innings in his second career start, and Matt Mieske and Gerald Williams homered to lead the Brewers at Detroit.

Florie (2-2) gave up only three hits, but walks put him in bases-loaded jams in both the fourth and fifth innings, though he pitched out of trouble.

Justin Thompson (8-8) lost his second start since missing two because of soreness in his left elbow.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Tino Martinez

Team: New York

Performance: 3 for 5, 2 homers, 3 RBIs

Team’s Result: Loss

BATTING

Player: Benito Santiago

Team: Toronto