American League Roundup : Clemens Strikes Out 16, Allows Royals 3 Hits

Roger Clemens allowed the Kansas City Royals just three hits and struck out 16--tops in the majors this season--taking the Boston Red Sox to a 2-0 victory Monday night at Kansas City.

Clemens (5-1) gave up consecutive one-out singles to Kevin Seitzer and George Brett in the first inning, then retired 24 consecutive Royals until Willie Wilson beat out a bouncer over the mound with one out in the ninth. Clemens walked one.

“I knew it was going to be a tight game and that usually brings out the best in me,” said the two-time winner of the Cy Young Award.

Kansas City’s Mark Gubicza (3-4)) allowed seven hits--three to Jody Reed--in 8 innings before he was relieved by Gene Garber with the bases loaded in the ninth. With two out, Garber hit Marty Barrett with a pitch for Boston’s second run.

Mike Greenwell tripled home an unearned run in the sixth inning for Boston.

Clemens, raising his career record against Kansas City to 7-1, had five strikeouts the first two innings. By the fifth inning, he had fanned every Kansas City batter except Brett at least once, and Brett went down swinging in the seventh.

In the eighth inning, Clemens struck out Bo Jackson, Frank White and Steve Balboni on 10 pitches, and he struck out the first batter in the ninth, giving him five in a row for the second time in the game. He has 81 in 67 innings this season.

“There’s not much you can say about this one except two words--Roger Clemens,” said Manager John Wathan, whose Royals have lost six straight games. “He was great.”

The 16 strikeouts by Clemens broke a record for the most times the Royals have been struck out in a nine-inning game. Clemens struck out the most batters in a game this season before Monday, 13 against Milwaukee on April 14.

Clemens holds the major league record with 20 strikeouts in a game against Seattle in 1986.

“If it’s possible he’s getting better,” Boston Manager John McNamara said. “He’s older now and more mature and he has a better idea of what he’s capable of doing.”

Oakland 3, Detroit 1--Bob Welch permitted four hits over eight innings and Jose Canseco hit his league-leading ninth homer at Oakland as the Athletics extended their winning streak to 14 games.

Oakland’s streak is the longest in the major leagues since the 1977 Kansas City Royals won 16 in a row. The 1988 A’s are 12-0 against the AL East.

Welch (5-2), pitching in his 300th major-league game, did not allow an extra-base hit until Lou Whitaker led off the ninth with a double. Dennis Eckersley came on to gain his 12th save in 12 save opportunities. He stretched his streak without giving up a run this year to 15 innings.

Welch, a Detroit native making his first-ever appearance against the Tigers, walked one and struck out five in winning his fourth straight game.

Detroit’s Jack Morris (3-4) pitched his fourth complete game in eight starts. He struck out 11, one shy of his career-high.

Milwaukee 9, Minnesota 6--Rob Deer’s three-run homer off Twins’ bullpen ace Jeff Reardon capped a five-run eighth inning that carried the Brewers to their 10th straight victory at Minneapolis.

Twins’ reliever Juan Berenguer, who squandered a 4-1 seventh-inning lead, walked Paul Molitor and gave up Robin Yount’s single to start the eighth.

Reardon (0-2) came in and failed to field B.J. Surhoff’s bunt single to load the bases for Greg Brock, whose two-run single made it 6-6. Four pitches later, Deer lined his sixth homer of the year over the left-field fence. Deer also drove in Milwaukee’s first run.

Reardon, who had 31 saves last year, and who was honored before the game as Minnesota’s 1987 most valuable player, has blown two straight save opportunities after being successful on his first five.