Yankees Keep Losing After Missing Out On Gonzalez

Juan Gonzalez didn’t get a hit in six at-bats against the New York Yankees Tuesday night. He would have fit right in with them.

“It was really tough, frustrating,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said after a 7-6, 11-inning loss to the Detroit Tigers at Detroit. “But that’s how a lot of this stuff has been.”

In another listless performance by the two-time World Series champions, David Cone was hit hard again, Mariano Rivera lost and defense proved costly--with Derek Jeter the culprit this time.

Torre and bench coach Don Zimmer were ejected in the fifth inning for arguing after an umpire appeared to miss a call on a key play.

When Bobby Higginson scored on Robert Fick’s slow grounder to shortstop in the 11th, it added up to the Yankees’ eighth loss in 11 games. In their last 40, the Yankees are 15-25.

“We had our opportunities and we didn’t score and then I made a huge mistake,” Jeter said.

Higginson singled off Rivera (2-3) leading off the 11th and Shane Halter hit a smash to shortstop that Jeter booted. Higginson, who fell as he rounded second base, made it to third ahead of left fielder Shane Spencer’s throw.

Jeter then threw home on Fick’s roller, and Higginson collided with catcher Chris Turner, jarring the ball loose. Higginson went back to the plate and touched it before Turner was able to grab the ball and attempt a tag with his bare hand.

Oakland 7, Texas 6--Ben Grieve drove in three runs at Oakland and the Athletics overcame the loss of injured starter Tim Hudson to beat the Rangers and collect their 11th win in 12 games.

Hudson (9-2), who is 8-0 in 12 starts since an April 20 loss at Cleveland, came out of the game after five innings with a split fingernail on the middle finger of his right hand. He gave up three runs and three hits.

Texas, which has the second-worst road record (12-22) in the American League, dropped 10 1/2 games out first place for the first time since ending the 1997 season 13 games back.

Minnesota 7, Chicago 4--James Baldwin lost his second consecutive start as Jacque Jones hit a two-run homer to lead the Twins at Chicago.

Baldwin, who is 3-3 after starting the season 7-0, gave up seven runs (six of those earned), 11 hits and five walks over six-plus innings. He is 1-2 in his last four starts, gave up 17 runs in 23 1/3 innings for a 6.56 earned-run average in that stretch.

Cleveland 12, Kansas City 1--Jim Thome homered twice, went four for four and drove in four runs and Richie Sexson also had four RBIs in the Indians’ victory at Kansas City. Sexson and Sandy Alomar also homered for the Indians.

Tampa Bay 11, Toronto 1--Steve Cox hit his first career grand slam and Fred McGriff went three for three with three RBIs as the Devil Rays stopped the Blue Jays’ five-game winning streak at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Baltimore 6, Boston 3--Charles Johnson hit a two-run homer in the Orioles’ five-run 10th inning as they ended a nine-game losing streak with a come-from-behind victory at Boston.