Irabu Signs Richest Pact For A Rookie

American League

The talking is over. Now Hideki Irabu finally will get his wish to pitch for the New York Yankees.

The 27-year-old right-hander agreed to terms Thursday, getting the richest deal ever given a major league rookie, a $12.8 million, four-year contract. Irabu will appear at Yankee Stadium on Friday to formally join the team.

“It could open up the whole Asian market to the Yankees,” New York pitcher David Cone said in Toronto after beating the Blue Jays. “And we certainly need the fans, not to mention the pitching depth it gives us.”

Irabu and his agent, Don Nomura, spent part of Thursday with the players’ union, working out details.

Irabu, who has 59-59 career record in Japan’s Pacific League with 1,111 strikeouts in 1,102-2/3 innings, will likely be assigned to the minors for a week to a month. Depending on when injured Dwight Gooden is ready to return, Irabu could take the place of Gooden or Kenny Rogers in the Yankees’ starting rotation.

Yankees 4, Blue Jays 0

Toronto

Tino Martinez hit his 20th homer - his third in three games - and David Cone struck out 12 to lead New York over Toronto.

Cone (6-3) allowed five hits and one walk in 7-2/3 innings and matched his season strikeout high. He has a league-leading 97, one more than Seattle’s Randy Johnson.

Brewers 7, Twins 4

Minneapolis

Jeromy Burnitz hit a two-run double in a four-run fourth inning and Mark Loretta hit a two-run homer as Milwaukee beat Minnesota.

Angels 7, Athletics 1

Oakland, Calif.

Allen Watson allowed one run and five hits in seven innings and Anaheim had five doubles among its 12 hits in a victory over Oakland.

White Sox 5, Red Sox 2 (11)

Boston

Jorge Fabregas, obtained from Anaheim 11 days earlier, hit his first homer of the season in a four-run 11th inning as Chicago took a win over Boston.

Two games postponed

Games between the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers at Detroit and Kansas City and Cleveland at KC were postponed by rain.

Clearing the bases

Defending American League ERA champion Juan Guzman was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday after fracturing his right thumb when hit by a batted ball. … The A’s are 8-20 this month, the most losses in Oakland history for May. The A’s have lost 20 games in a month 10 times since moving to Oakland in 1968.