Nomo No-No Over Early, but He’s a Winner Again

Hideo Nomo had everything working for him again: his split-fingered fastball, his curve--and Brian Daubach.

Matched up with the Baltimore Orioles again in his first game since pitching a no-hitter against them last week, Nomo gave up one run and four hits in six innings Tuesday night and Daubach hit another two home runs to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 10-1 victory at Boston.

“I wish he could pitch every day,” said Daubach, who also homered twice in last Wednesday’s no-hitter. “I’ve only played two games behind him, and it’s worked out good for both of us.”

Nomo (2-0) received a consolation cheer from the crowd when he gave up the Orioles’ first hit, a bunt single by Melvin Mora with two out in the second inning. Johnny Vander Meer remains the only pitcher in major league history to pitch no-hitters in consecutive games, doing it for the Cincinnati Reds in 1938.

“I wasn’t thinking of a no-hitter tonight,” Nomo said through an interpreter. “The only thing I was thinking of was not to let him score after he [Mora] got on base.”

The Fenway fans cheered loudly and waved signs that said “No Mo’ Hits” on one side with the Japanese characters for strikeout on the other. Many stood when Nomo came off the field--for good, it turned out--after working out of a jam with one out and runners on first and third in the sixth.

“It’s pretty tough when you compare it to a no-hitter,” Red Sox Manager Jimy Williams said. “But it was basically similar. Give up one run in six innings? Pretty darn good.”

Daubach was also pretty good, driving in five runs while leading Boston’s 12-hit attack. Jason Varitek doubled twice, and Tim Wakefield pitched the final three innings for his first save.

Sidney Ponson (0-2), who last week gave up only four hits while striking out 10 to pick up the hard-luck loss against Nomo, had no one to blame but himself this time. He gave up six earned runs on six hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings.

Chris Richard had two hits for the Orioles, who lost for the fourth time in five games.

New York 9, Kansas City 5--Michael Coleman, subbing for absent all-star Bernie Williams, hit the first home run of his career to trigger a five-run rally in the ninth inning that lifted the Yankees at Kansas City, Mo.

The Royals, whose bullpen had blown 56 save chances in the last two years, handed new relief ace Roberto Hernandez a 5-4 lead to start the ninth.

After Hernandez (0-1) struck out Tino Martinez, the Yankees broke loose. They batted around in beating the Royals for the fifth consecutive time this season.

“This is an opportunity,” Coleman said. “I’m keeping it warm for Bernie until he gets back. We’ve got people here to fill in.”

Chicago 8, Cleveland 7--Sandy Alomar Jr., playing the 1,000th game of his major league career, drove in the winning run against his former team at Chicago.

Alomar and Herbert Perry both had two runs batted in for the White Sox, who overcame some sloppy pitching to win consecutive games for the first time this season.

With Chicago trailing, 7-6, in the eighth, Carlos Lee led off with a single and scored the tying run on Perry’s double to deep right field.

That brought up Alomar, who lined a pitch just over reliever Paul Shuey’s head--out of the reach of second baseman and brother Robbie Alomar.

Minnesota 8, Detroit 2--David Ortiz and Brian Buchanan hit three-run homers at Minneapolis to support Eric Milton.

The Twins, whose 116 home runs last year were last in the majors by 28, have hit 10 in seven games.

Milton (1-0) worked six innings and gave up six hits, including Bobby Higginson’s two-run homer in the third.

Toronto 3, Tampa Bay 2--Jose Cruz homered in the bottom of the 10th inning at Toronto and the Blue Jays sent the Devil Rays to their seventh consecutive loss.

Tanyon Sturtze (0-1) pitched two hitless innings before Cruz connected with one out for his third home run of the season.

Tony Batista also homered for the Blue Jays, who lead the American League with 16. The Blue Jays won for the sixth time in seven games and improved to 4-1 against the Devil Rays this season.

Seattle 5, Oakland 1--Edgar Martinez continued his blistering hitting against the A’s and John Halama gave up four hits over 6 1/3 innings at Oakland.

Martinez hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot in the third inning. He improved to nine for 11--with eight walks--against the A’s this season.

Halama (1-1) walked one and struck out three. He retired 10 consecutive batters at one stretch and allowed only one batter past first base before leaving.