American League Roundup : Umpire’s Call Leads to Early Exit for Clemens

Umpire Greg Kosc accomplished something Wednesday night at Chicago that American League hitters have been unable to do this season--he got Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens out of a game before the fifth inning was over.

When Kosc ruled that Clemens failed to touch first base on a play in the fifth inning, the hottest pitcher in baseball became so incensed that he bumped the umpire, then lunged at him and was thrown out of the game.

The call, apparently refuted by a scoreboard replay, allowed the go-ahead run to score, so Clemens, who went 4 innings, became the loser in the White Sox’s 7-2 victory over the fading Red Sox. The defeat dropped Clemens’ record to 17-3 and gave the Red Sox a 3-10 mark on the trip.

Until his ejection, Clemens had gone at least five innings in each of his 20 starts. Only once did he fail to get into the seventh.

Clemens was not pitching one of his better games. The league strikeout leader had only one and had given up eight hits and, because of Kosc’s call, three runs.

John Cangelosi was on third base for the White Sox, and there were two out when Harold Baines hit a slow roller to first baseman Bill Buckner. It appeared that Buckner’s throw to Clemens beat Raines easily, but Kosc ruled Clemens never touched first. During the ensuing argument, teammates had to restrain Clemens.

Former Pirate pitcher Jose DeLeon held the slumping Red Sox to three hits in six innings to gain his first victory in the American League. Tim Hulett went 4 for 4, including a two-run homer, to spark the White Sox attack.

Milwaukee 5, New York 0--The Yankees made Tuesday’s trade with the White Sox because they were desperate for right-handed hitting. Two of the newcomers, Wayne Tolleson and Joel Skinner, had half the Yankee hits at Milwaukee against Ted Higuera.

But Higuera (13-7) struck out the big new bomber, Ron Kittle, three times on the way to his third win in a row since the All-Star game.

It was another missed opportunity for the Yankees to cut into Boston’s four-game lead in the East. Against left-handers this season, the Yankees are 13-23.

Detroit 11, Cleveland 3--The Yankees may not be taking advantage of the collapse of the Red Sox, but there are other teams making a serious challenge. The Tigers are one of them.

In this game at Cleveland, rookie Eric King held the Indians to six hits in 7 innings to improve his record to 8-2 and put the Tigers only 5 1/2 games out of first place.

Rookie catcher Dwight Lowry hit a three-run home run, and Kirk Gibson hit a two-run double to key the Tiger offense.

Toronto 7, Kansas City 2--Defending Eastern Division champion Toronto is also making a move. Ernie Whitt and Jesse Barfield hit home runs as the Blue Jays completed a sweep of the three-game series at Kansas City.

Barfield’s major league-leading 26th home run helped Joe Johnson, obtained from Atlanta July 6, pick up his first win in the American League. Johnson gave up six hits in 6 innings. Dennis Leonard (6-10), who hasn’t won since June 4, was the loser.

Texas 5, Baltimore 3--Don Slaught hit a two-run home run with one out in the 11th at Arlington to set a Ranger record for home runs by a catcher (11) and keep the Rangers three games behind the Angels.

Pete Incaviglia hit a three-run homer in the fifth to get the Rangers in front, 3-0, but the Orioles bounced back to tie it in the eighth.

Seattle 4, Minnesota 2--Spike Owen singled with the bases loaded in the sixth at Minneapolis to break a 2-2 tie and give the Mariners the win.