American League Roundup : Clemens Flirts With More Notoriety, Settles for Two-Hitter, 7-1 Victory

Roger Clemens, the hottest pitcher in baseball, knew he had to do something special Sunday at Arlington, Tex., just to win over his mother.

Although he was going for his eighth victory without a defeat, Clemens’ mother went to Arlington Stadium primarily to watch George Strait, the country music singer who performed after the game.

Clemens almost did something really special. He had a no-hitter going until Oddibe McDowell hit a sinking liner that dropped in front of center fielder Steve Lyons with two out in the eighth inning. Clemens lost his shutout when Darrell Porter hit a home run with two out in the ninth and he settled for a two-hitter and a 7-1 victory for the Boston Red Sox over the Texas Rangers.

In so doing, Clemens won over his mom and 38,997 other fans with a superlative performance to go alongside his record-setting 20 strikeout performance last month.

“My mom told me I was No. 2 today,” Clemens told UPI. “She came to watch George Strait. She is a big fan of his.

“I really mean this,” Clemens said. “I’m just happy to get the win. That’s what counts. I’m glad the hit (by McDowell) was a clean one. Steve tried as hard as he could to catch it.”

Lyons had replaced Tony Armas for defensive purposes just an inning before. He made a diving attempt at a catch, but couldn’t reach the ball.

The Red Sox had long before clinched the victory. In the second inning Wade Boggs hit the first grand slam of his career and it was easy enough for Clemens.

It was an amazing performance under trying circumstances. Clemens said on his second pitch of the game, something popped on the middle finger of his pitching hand. He said it was sore around the knuckle the rest of the game. He plans to have it checked today.

Clemens, who was coming off three rather mediocre efforts in which he gave up 14 runs in 23 innings, walked four and struck out eight. In one superb stretch he retired 15 batters in a row.

The 6-4 right-hander, who was plagued by injuries in his first two seasons and underwent surgery last August, was a two-time All-American at the University of Texas and still resides in Texas.

“I thought he had the same stuff today that he had when I faced him in college,” said McDowell, who went to Arizona State.

Texas Manager Bobby Valentine was impressed by the 23-year-old pitcher. “This is the first time we’ve had a look at Clemens and he was very impressive,” Valentine said. “He has outstanding stuff and pitched an outstanding game. I hope some of our young guys watched what he did because they have great stuff, too.”

Kansas City 2, Chicago 1--George Brett singled in the fourth inning at Kansas City for his 2,000th hit, but it was several hours later before the Royals’ star could celebrate.

Jim Sundberg’s sacrifice fly in the 17th inning scored Jamie Quirk from third base and gave rookie Scott Bankhead a victory in his major-league debut. Bankhead pitched the last four innings and retired the last 10 White Sox.

The single was Brett’s only hit in seven tries. With one out in the 17th, Quirk doubled off Bill Dawley (0-3). Greg Pryor bounced a hit off Dawley’s foot to put runners on first and third. After Darryl Motley was given an intentional walk, Sundberg hit the first pitch to the warning track in left and Quirk scored easily.

Dennis Leonard, continuing his brilliant comeback, held the White Sox to three hits in eight innings, striking out seven and lowering his earned-run average to 1.96.

The White Sox blew a great chance to win in the 10th when Greg Walker opened with a triple off Dan Quisenberry. Carlton Fisk was hit by a pitch, but Bobby Bonilla struck out. On a suicide squeeze, pinch-hitter Jerry Hairston failed to hit the pitch and Walker was trapped off third.

Detroit 2, Oakland 1--While rookie Jose Canseco has done a fabulous job for the A’s with his bat, a defensive lapse in left field in this game at Detroit cost the A’s.

Canseco singled home Bruce Bochte in the first inning. It was a 1-1 tie when Tom Brookens singled to left to open the eighth. Canseco misplayed the bounce for a two-base error and Brookens reached third. He scored the winning run after Darnell Coles flied to left.

Walt Terrell (6-1) pitched a four-hitter.

Toronto 8, Cleveland 1--Rookie John Cerutti threw mostly forkballs and curveballs at Cleveland and the Indians thought he looked easy to hit.

However, they managed only two hits in eight innings off the 26-year-old left-hander. The Blue Jays pounded out 11 hits, including the first home runs of the season by Damaso Garcia and Tony Fernandez.

Minnesota 4, Milwaukee 3--Kent Hrbek hit a two-run home run and big Mike Smithson went the distance at Minneapolis despite giving up 11 hits.

Smithson, who leads the league in complete games with six, is 5-3.

Baltimore 6, Seattle 3--Rick Dempsey and Fred Lynn hit two-run homers off Mike Moore to lead the Baltimore Orioles to their fifth straight victory.

Mike Boddicker, 5-1, allowed 10 hits, struck out seven and walked one in pitching his second complete game of the season.

The loss dropped Seattle into last place in the AL West, seven games behind division leading Texas. It was the Mariners seventh defeat in their last eight games, while Baltimore has won 13 of its last 15.