Gooden Records First A.L. Victory

American League

Dwight Gooden finally got his first A.L. win and finally gave the New York Yankees some good news.

Gooden (1-3) recovered from a shaky start to win his first game in nearly two years Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, leading New York to a 10-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers

Gooden, who returned to baseball this season after sitting out all 1995 when he was banned for testing positive for cocaine, won his first game since June 19, 1994, when he was with the New York Mets.

The right-hander, making his sixth start of the season, gave up three runs on two hits in the first inning, but settled down to defeat the league’s worst-hitting team.

Gooden won 157 games in the N.L. before drug problems derailed his career.

White Sox 11, Orioles 2

Chicago

Robin Ventura’s three-run homer highlighted a six-run fifth that carried Chicago past Baltimore.

It was the Orioles their fourth straight loss and ninth in 14 games.

Rangers 4, Blue Jays 2

Arlington, Texas

Bobby Witt won his 100th career game and Texas beat Toronto for its fifth straight win.

Witt (4-2) allowed eight hits in seven-plus innings, struck out nine and walked one to send the Rangers to their seventh consecutive victory over the Blue Jays.

Indians 7, Athletics 3

Oakland, Calif.

Charles Nagy scattered seven hits in eight innings and Albert Belle had a three-run homer in a fiverun fifth as Cleveland beat Oakland to avoid a series sweep.

Sox vs. Brewers, ppd.

Milwaukee

Boston’s road game was postponed because of inclement weather. It was rescheduled for Aug. 9 as part of a doubleheader.

Fermin in minors

Felix Fermin, released by Seattle last month, signed a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees.

Fermin, 32, batted .195 in 73 games last season with the Mariners. He hit .317 in 101 games in 1994. He is a career .260 hitter.

Cone update

David Cone, the New York Yankees pitcher hospitalized with an aneurysm in his right shoulder, is likely to be sidelined at least a month, and possibly the season. Cone, one of baseball’s most consistent and durable pitchers, remained in Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York for more tests on the small aneurysm found a day earlier.

The Yankees have not confirmed if the 33-year-old right-hander will have surgery, despite reports saying he will be operated on immediately.

Paul Gibson was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to fill Cone’s spot.