LOS ANGELES -- Jimmy Key, the New York Yankee left-hander, led the major leagues in victories in 1994's strike-shortened season, but finished second to David Cone of the Kansas City Royals in voting for the American League's Cy Young award.


In results announced Tuesday, Cone, who was 16-5 with a 2.94 earned-run average, received 15 of 28 first-place votes and 108 points from a committee of the Baseball Writers Association of America.


Key, who was 17-4 with a 3.27 ERA, got 10 first-place votes and 96 points. He also received a $50,000 consolation prize, his contract bonus for finishing second.


Key, 35-10 in his two seasons with the Yankees and now recovering from shoulder surgery, said he considered games won the most important yardstick for a pitcher "because it's the basis on which we're paid." But he also said he was not disappointed, noting his friendship with Cone, a Toronto Blue Jay teammate during the final two months of 1992.


Cone was pleased with the award but said he will look back with regret on the lost opportunity for Kansas City, which had surged to within four games of the lead in the Central Division when the strike began.


"It would be much nicer to be pitching Game 3 of the World Series in Kansas City tonight," he said. "I'd trade this for that in a heartbeat.


In addition to the better ERA, Cone struck out 132 in 171 innings, compared to Key's 97 in 168. Cone restricted opposing hitters to a .209 average compared to Key's .273, and had eight consecutive victories after having lost his first start of the year, pitching 28 consecutive scoreless innings in the process.