American League Roundup : Boggs Has 5 Hits, Takes Batting Lead as Red Sox Roll Over the Twins, 17-7

Wade Boggs had the first five-hit game of his career, sparking a 20-hit attack Tuesday night as the Boston Red Sox routed the Minnesota Twins, 17-7, at Fenway Park.

Unbeaten Roger Clemens earned his seventh straight victory, going seven innings and giving up five runs on nine hits as Boston won its fourth in a row. He struck out four.

Boggs, who led the major leagues with a .368 average last year, went 5 for 6 with four singles and a double. He also reached base on an error and raised his average to .383, to take over as the leading hitter in the majors.

“I had five hits as a senior in high school, but I’ve never had six in a game anywhere,” Boggs said. “I was thinking about six, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

On his sixth trip to the plate in the seventh inning, Boggs hit a sharp grounder that went through first baseman Mickey Hatcher’s legs for an error.

“I hit the ball pretty good, but I guess he should have had it,” Boggs said. “It’s funny the way things can go. My bunt in the first inning started everything. I popped the bunt (to the right of the mound) and then beat the pitcher to the first-base bag. Things took off from there with one ball falling in for a hit in the outfield and another finding a hole through the middle, even though they were playing me to hit up the middle.”

Gary Gaetti had two homers and a double for the Twins, who finished with 11 hits. Minnesota also committed five errors in losing for the ninth time in the last 10 games.

Tony Armas had a double and three singles and Marc Sullivan collected three singles as the Red Sox mauled five Minnesota pitchers. Greg Gagne added a home run and two singles for the Twins.

Minnesota starter Frank Viola (4-4) failed to retire a batter, allowing five hits, including three doubles, and a walk before being replaced.

Oakland 2, New York 1--Rickey Henderson hit Curt Young’s first pitch of the game for a home run that nearly landed in the upper deck at Yankee Stadium, but Henderson later made a ninth-inning error that cost the Yankees the game.

Young, called up from the minors on May 8, improved his record to 2-0 in only two starts, giving up the one run on four hits in 8 innings. At one point, he retired 18 batters in a row. Jay Howell got the final two outs in the ninth for his fifth save.

Ron Guidry (4-3) lost for the third time in four decisions, despite allowing only five hits. He walked 3, struck out 7 and retired 17 consecutive batters during one stretch.

Don Mattingly went 0 for 4 and saw his 14-game hitting streak end.

The winning run scored when Henderson slipped in center field on Dusty Baker’s single, allowing rookie Jose Canseco to score from second.

“I slipped,” Henderson said. “You saw it. But that wasn’t the reason we lost. We lost because we didn’t hit.”

Detroit 12, Seattle 0--Darnell Coles had three RBIs, two on an eighth-inning homer, and Walt Terrell limited the Mariners to five hits in the rout at Detroit.

Terrell (5-1) pitched his fourth complete game and seventh career shutout. He walked six and struck out two.

Mike Moore (2-5) took the loss after giving up six runs on seven hits in four innings.

Chicago 2, Toronto 1--Joel Davis scattered eight hits and the White Sox extended their winning streak to six games with the victory at Chicago.

Davis (2-1) struck out six and walked three. Toronto rookie John Cerutti (0-1) gave up seven hits in seven innings in his first start of the season.

Texas 4, Royals 0--Left-hander Mike Mason struck out a career-high 10 batters and held the Royals to six hits as the Rangers won at Arlington, Tex.

Mason (4-0) outdueled Royal right-hander Dennis Leonard (4-4), who allowed eight hits, including two home runs. Mason walked three in his second career shutout.

Royal shortstop Angel Salazar dropped a pickoff throw at second in the third for his first error of the season after 35 errorless games, a club record.

Milwaukee 12, Cleveland 9--The Brewers, behind two-run homers by Cecil Copper and Rob Deer, overcame an 8-0 first-inning deficit at Milwaukee.

The Brewers rapped 15 hits, including a three-run homer by Paul Householder and a solo shot by Dale Sveum, in overtaking the Indians.