When the 2000 Yankees signed Dwight Gooden to a minor league deal in June, the move seemed to be nothing more than George Steinbrenner wanting to give one last chance to a favorite former Yankee at the end of his career. The right-hander, who was an important part of the 1996 World Series
champions and the 1997 squad that followed, struggled in nine starts between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays.And yet, somehow, the Yankees were able to wring the last bit of quality baseball out of Doc. In
his first two starts after being recalled from Triple-A Columbus, he allowed just three runs in 10.1 innings of work, including a win at his old haunt of Shea Stadium during the cross-town doubleheader. Then on July 21st, he took the mound against the team that rejected him earlier in the season — and made them pay.
July 21: Yankees 11, Devil Rays 1 (box score)
Record: 50-41 (1st place in AL East, 1.5 games ahead)
Despite the lopsided final score, it was actually the Devil Rays that struck first, as Gerald Williams led off the top of the first with a solo shot to left field. After Ozzie Guillén and Greg Vaughn each grounded out, Fred McGriff and José Canseco each singled and Steve Cox worked a walk to load the bases. Mike Difelice, however, flew out to center, ending the threat.
The offense got that run back, and then some, in the bottom of the first. After Chuck Knoblauch grounded out to short for the first out, Derek Jeter and Paul O’Neill each singled, and Bernie Williams walked to load the bases. David Justice then grounded a single through the right side, scoring both Jeter and O’Neill. Although Tino Martinez grounded into an inning-ending double play, just like that, the Yankees had an early 2-1 lead.
As it turns out, that was enough. Gooden settled down after the first inning. He scattered five hits across his next five innings of work, and allowed just one batter — José Vizcaíno, who doubled with two outs in the second — to reach scoring position. His final line was excellent: one run on eight hits in six innings, striking out two and walking just one.
After blowing a 3-0 lead the previous day, though, the offense decided not to take any chances. Jeter led off the bottom of the third with a single to right, coming around to score two batters later on a Bernie double. Williams himself would come around to score on a single by Justice to extend the lead to 4-1.
The fourth inning saw the Yankees put together another rally. Jorge Posada led off the frame with a double to right field. After he advanced to third when Scott Brosius grounded out to second. That put him in position to score when José Vizcaíno laced a single up the middle. Vizcaíno then proceeded to steal second and advance to third on a throwing error by the catcher, putting him in position to score when Jeter lined a single up the middle.
The Yankees tacked on two more in the fifth, courtesy of a two-run shot off the bat of Posada, before putting together another rally in the sixth — this one off future Yankee Tanyon Sturtze. A pair of singles by Jeter and Williams, plus a Justice walk, loaded the bases for Martinez with one away. He grounded an RBI single through the right side, scoring Jeter and Williams and sending Justice to third. Two batters later, Brosius singled to right, scoring Félix José (who had run for Justice). While Sturtze would get Vizcaíno swinging to end the threat, the damage was done, and the Yankees had themselves an 11-1 lead.
The final third of the game would prove to be uneventful, as both teams’ bullpens traded zeroes. While things did get a little exciting — the Devil Rays did load the bases in the ninth — but the outcome was never, ever in doubt.
July 21st, however, was notable not only for the decisive victory over the Devil Rays, but a move prior to the deadline. After Shane Spencer tore his ACL, ending his season, Brian Cashman swung a deal for Glenallen Hill, acquiring the left fielder/designated hitter from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Ben Ford and Ozwaldo Mairena. As will be seen over the next couple of months, Hill would be a force at the plate down the stretch for the Bombers, posting a .333/.378/.735 slash line in 40 games.
Read the full 2000 Yankees Diary series here.
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