Nomo beats O's, allows four hits

BOSTON (AP) – Hideo Nomo didn’t need a no-hitter to beat Baltimore this time.

In his first game since pitching the second no-hitter of his career, Nomo allowed four hits in six innings on Tuesday night and got another two homers from Brian Daubach as the Boston Red Sox beat the Orioles 10-1.

Nomo (2-0) received a consolation cheer from the crowd when he allowed Baltimore’s first hit, a bunt single to Melvin Mora with two outs in the second inning.

Nomo got a bigger cheer when he 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.

Johnny Vander Meer remains the only pitcher in major league history to pitch no-hitters in consecutive games, doing it for Cincinnati in 1938.

Daubach, who homered twice last Wednesday when Nomo stole the spotlight in his Red Sox debut, drove 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 allowed just 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.

Varitek doubled to lead off the second, then Shea Hillenbrand reached on an error and Daubach doubled to score the first run. Daubach scored on a groundout and Hillenbrand followed on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Boston added six more runs in the fourth inning on Daubach’s three-run homer, a two-run single by Manny Ramirez and a fielder’s choice by Varitek. Daubach homered to lead off the fifth and make it 10-0.

Nomo walked Brady Anderson to lead off the sixth, then gave up a run-scoring double to Mike Bordick. After Delino DeShields struck out, David Segui singled, but Nomo fanned Chris Richard and got Cal Ripken to ground out to end the inning.

Boston has won four consecutive games since losing two out of three in Baltimore to start the season. Nomo’s no-hitter in his Red Sox debut was their only win of the opening series, but he didn’t come close to repeating it.

Jose Offerman made a nice play to field Anderson’s grounder to lead off the game, then Bordick walked. Nomo struck out DeShields, then made a nice stab himself on Segui’s grounder to the mound to end the inning.

Richard walked to lead off the second, Ripken popped up and Brook Fordyce also walked. Mora pulled the first pitch he saw into the hole between Nomo and third baseman Hillenbrand, and neither had a chance.