New York ? No wonder the rest of baseball is scared of the New York Yankees: Their starting pitchers have stopped giving up runs.

Orlando Hernandez, not even guaranteed a starting spot at the start of spring training, became the latest pitcher to make shutout ball seem routine. El Duque allowed one hit in eight innings, Ron Coomer homered in his first at-bat with the Yankees and New York beat Wilson Alvarez in his return from a two-season layoff, topping Tampa Bay, 3-0, Saturday.

New York's Orlando Hernandez delivers a pitch against Tampa Bay. El Duque was the winning pitcher Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

“He was the El Duque of old,” Jason Giambi said.

Since Roger Clemens was hit hard after taking a shot off his pitching hand on opening day, starters David Wells, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte and Hernandez have combined for 2813 shutout innings. The four-time defending AL champions have won four straight since losing their opener, taking sole possession of first in the AL East. They have three shutouts one-third of their 2001 total.

“We feel pitching is our strong point, but what we’ve done we can’t expect to happen all the time,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Giambi went 0-for-1 with two walks and a hit by pitch, dropping to 2-for-17 (.118) with no RBIs.

While waiting for Giambi, the Yankees don’t have to wonder about El Duque (1-0). Last year, he didn’t get a win until Sept. 1, slowed by arm and toe injuries.

The 36-year-old right-hander, using a big curveball and what Giambi called a “Bugs Bunny changeup,” allowed just a one-out single to right by Toby Hall in the second.

After a third-inning walk, he retired 15 in a row until Brent Abernathy reached on an error in the eighth. He struck out seven and walked one.

Mariano Rivera earned his third save.

Twins 7, Blue Jays 5

Toronto Jacque Jones hit his third home run and Doug Mientkiewicz and Jay Canizaro each had two RBIs as Minnesota beat Toronto. LaTroy Hawkins (1-0) pitched 123 scoreless innings for the win. Eddie Guardado pitched the ninth for his fourth save in as many chances.

Red Sox 4, Orioles 2

Baltimore Nomar Garciaparra hit a three-run homer in the eighth to ruin a fine pitching performance by Scott Erickson (1-1), who blanked the Red Sox through six innings. Casey Fossum (1-0) pitched two innings for the win, and Ugueth Urbina worked the ninth for his second save.

Indians 5, Tigers 3

Detroit Ellis Burks drove in two runs, Brady Anderson homered and Bartolo Colon was solid as Cleveland beat Detroit. The Tigers (0-5) are baseball’s lone winless team.

Angels 6, Rangers 3

Arlington, Texas Troy Glaus homered twice, and Ramon Ortiz tamed the powerful Texas Rangers lineup.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Alex Rodriguez hit a long drive off Al Levine that was caught on the warning track. Thinking he had connected for a game-winning grand slam, Rodriguez raised his arms and pumped his fist as he started toward first base. But Garret Anderson made the catch in deep left.

Athletics 8, Mariners 3

Seattle Mark Mulder pitched into the seventh inning for his second victory, and Frank Menechino’s tiebreaking homer lifted Oakland over Seattle.