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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) – Charles Nagy surprised everyone except himself.
|  | | The never shy Paul O'Neill expresses his displeasure at receiving a called third strike. |
Nagy provided a much-needed boost to Cleveland's pitching staff,
throwing seven impressive innings in his 2001 debut to lead the
Indians over the New York Yankees 4-3 Sunday.
Sidelined for most of last season after surgery on his right
elbow, Nagy recorded his first major league victory since May 16,
2000.
"It's been a long road," he said. "No one expected me to be
here right now."
"My arm feels fine, better than it felt all of last year,"
Nagy added. "I guess people don't believe me when I tell them
that."
With Chuck Finley already on the disabled list and ace Bartolo
Colon reporting pain in his right elbow, the Indians needed Nagy
(1-0) to deliver.
(2-0)
He did just that, holding the Yankees to only one hit – Derek
Jeter's home run – through five innings.
"He surprised me a little bit with his velocity," Indians
manager Charlie Manuel said. "I couldn't see that coming."
Pitching aggressively rather than gingerly, and showing no ill
effects from right elbow surgery that wrecked most of last year,
Nagy looked exactly like the pitcher who won at least 15 games each
season from 1995-99.
Nagy, activated from the disabled list on Friday and pitching in
Finley's place, gave up one run and allowed four hits and walked
three. His lone strikeout was a big one, fanning Paul O'Neill with
two runners on base to end the sixth with the score 1-all.
Nagy became the first Indians' starter to get through the
seventh inning since Colon on May 22.
"It surprised you that he went that far after being on the
disabled list," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "He had to know
he was on a short leash."
Nagy was 5-1 with a 2.56 ERA at Triple-A Buffalo this season
while getting ready to return to the majors. The Connecticut
native, once again pitching in front of friends and family members,
improved to 6-4 lifetime at Yankee Stadium.
"This is a great place to pitch," he said. "I always enjoy
coming back here. I've been throwing a lot down there in Buffalo
and Florida. I really didn't have any expectations about today."
Roberto Alomar homered in the first inning off Andy Pettitte
(6-4) and hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth.
"After what happened with Bartolo, the way Charlie pitched
today was a huge plus for us," Alomar said.
Bob Wickman pitched the ninth, giving up Scott Brosius' two-run
homer before getting his 12th save in 12 chances.
After Jeter's homer in the fourth, the game stayed tied until
the Indians' eighth.
Einar Diaz led off with a single, and Kenny Lofton bunted. Third
baseman Brosius made a barehanded pickup and his one-bounce throw
pulled Jeter off second base for an error.
Omar Vizquel sacrificed, and Alomar lifted a fly ball to left
field that easily scored Diaz for a 2-1 lead.
Diaz added a two-run single in the ninth off reliever Carlos
Almanzar.
Game notes
Second baseman Alomar also made the play of the day, diving to his left
to smother David Justice's grounder and throwing to Nagy for the
out in the sixth. ... There was a moment of silence for Gene
Woodling, who died Saturday at 78. He started his career with
Cleveland in 1943 and played outfield for Yankees teams that won
the World Series from 1949-53. ... Longtime PA announcer Bob
Sheppard did not work because of laryngitis. ... Colon will be
examined Monday in Cleveland. ... The Yankees will face Pedro
Martinez for the third time in 12 days when Boston visits for a
makeup game Monday night. ... Jim Thome's streak of eight straight
games with an extra-base hit ended. ... Tino Martinez stopped an
0-for-17 slump with a single. ... Cleveland 3B Travis Fryman, who
had been sidelined by an injured right elbow, made his first start
of the season. He went 0-for-4. ... Wickman and Thome went to see
"The Producers" while in New York. The Broadway show was a big
favorite to do well at the Tony awards Sunday night. ... The
Yankees and Indians, who have won all the AL pennants since 1995,
have almost identical regular-season records during that time.
Cleveland is 596-409, New York is 596-411. ... Pettitte has pitched
at least six innings in all 12 of his starts this year.
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RECAPS
Cleveland 4
NY Yankees 3
Boston 5
Toronto 4
Chi. White Sox 9
Detroit 6
Minnesota 6
Texas 3
Anaheim 7
Kansas City 2
Oakland 5
Baltimore 1
Seattle 8
Tampa Bay 4
Montreal 10
Philadelphia 3
Atlanta 11
Pittsburgh 7
Atlanta 8
Pittsburgh 3
(2nd game)
Milwaukee 4
Chicago Cubs 2
Los Angeles 9
Houston 8
Colorado 11
San Francisco 2
Florida 1
NY Mets 0
Arizona 8
San Diego 4
St. Louis 4
Cincinnati 3
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