American League Roundup : Boston Wins in Fenway Again Behind Clemens

Roger Clemens struck out 13 batters, and Marty Barrett delivered a bases-loaded single in the ninth inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers and their 19th straight win at Fenway Park.

Clemens (15-5) pitched his major leagues-leading 11th complete game, throwing 149 pitches in 100-degree heat to beat Milwaukee’s Teddy Higuera (7-7).

Clemens raised his strikeout total to 232--also best in the majors--and gave up seven hits and one intentional walk. He has struck out 10 or more batters 12 times this season.

Clemens’ performance might have been wasted if it were not for Barrett, who grounded a single into left field to score Kevin Romine from third base and break a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth. Barrett redeemed himself after a costly base-running mistake in the eighth inning that prevented Boston from taking the lead.

With Barrett on third and the score tied, Jim Rice hit a line drive to right field. The Brewers’ Rob Deer made a diving catch, and Barrett was caught halfway down the line from third. After going back and tagging, Barrett was easily thrown out at home trying to score.

The Red Sox are 16-1 since Joe Morgan replaced John McNamara as manager July 14.

Said Morgan: “When you’re going good, even when you foul up you still can win games.”

Detroit 3, Texas 0--Walt Terrell (5-8) pitched a five-hitter for his first shutout of the season to enable the Tigers to stay alone atop the Eastern Division.

Detroit remains 1 game ahead of the New York Yankees and 1 1/2 games ahead of the surging Red Sox. All three teams were victorious Saturday.

The Tigers scored two runs on only one hit to take the lead in the third inning. Luis Salazar led off with a single, and Matt Nokes walked. The runners advanced a base on Tom Brookens’ sacrifice. Salazar scored on Pat Sheridan’s ground-out, and Nokes came home on a passed ball.

The Tigers increased their lead to 3-0 on a leadoff homer by Brookens in the sixth.

Ranger starter Charlie Hough (9-12) allowed four hits, struck out five and walked five in seven innings. It was Hough’s second straight start in which Texas has been shut out.

New York 3, Toronto 1--John Candelaria combined with two relievers on a four-hitter, Rickey Henderson scored twice and Dave Winfield hit his 20th home run as the Yankees defeated the Blue Jays at Toronto.

Candelaria (12-6) left because of stiffness in his elbow after pitching five innings and giving up two hits, including Jesse Barfield’s ninth home run in the fifth. Steve Sheilds relieved Candelaria and allowed two hits before Dave Righetti came on in the seventh and earned his 15th save.

Henderson walked in the first, the 12th consecutive time he has reached base safely to open the game, and eventually came around to score when Don Mattingly grounded into a double play to give the Yankees an early lead. Henderson has scored in the first inning in nine of the last 10 games.

Henderson scored again in the third after reaching base on another walk and stealing his major leagues-leading 56th base. Winfield’s home run came in the ninth.

Toronto pitcher Mike Flanagan (10-7) gave up 7 hits and 2 runs in 6 innings for the loss.

Oakland 5, Seattle 2--Dave Henderson and Jose Canseco hit consecutive home runs in the first inning, and Dave Stewart (13-4) pitched a four-hitter as the Athletics defeated the Mariners at Seattle.

Henderson hit a one-out, solo home run over the right-field wall against Mike Moore (4-12), his 14th. Canseco followed with his major leagues-leading 28th home run.

Stewart halted his three-game losing streak with his fourth consecutive complete game. He walked 4 and struck out 9 in his 11th complete game, a career-high.

Kansas City 8, Baltimore 7--Danny Tartabull drove in four runs and had three hits, including a three-run home run in the fifth inning that snapped a 3-3 tie, as the Royals ran their record against the Orioles to 8-0 this season.

Frank White added a home run and two doubles, and George Brett also hit a home run for the Royals, who won their second straight game at Baltimore.

Eddie Murray’s two-out, two-run home run in the sixth inning made the score 6-5. Cal Ripken hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to pull the Orioles within one again, but Kansas City reliever Steve Farr closed out the game for his 11th save.

Ted Power (5-4) gave up two runs in four innings to earn the victory.

Minnesota 4, Cleveland 2--Gary Gaetti hit his 24th home run, a three-run shot in the first inning, to give the Twins the victory over the Indians at Cleveland in a game called after seven innings because of rain.

Gaetti drove an inside fastball into the left-field stands, giving the Twins all the runs they needed in the shortened game and spoiling the major league debut of Cleveland pitcher Rod Nichols (0-1).

Minnesota starter Allan Anderson limited the Indians to five hits and was credited with the second complete game of his career.