American League Roundup : Evans Drives in 7 Runs as Red Sox Push Tigers to Wall in Fenway, 16-4

There isn’t much doubt that all the Boston Red Sox love Fenway Park. Probably none of them are more fond of the relic than Dwight Evans.

The 36-year-old outfielder hit two home runs, a single and a bases-loaded triple to lead the Red Sox to a 16-4 romp over the Detroit Tigers Saturday at Boston. It was their 24th consecutive victory at home and moved them within 2 1/2 games of the Tigers in the American League East.

Evans, who was in an 0-for-22 slump when the Red Sox staggered back to Boston after a 2-7 trip that dropped them out of a tie for first place, came out of it with three hits Friday night.

Then, in this game, he drove in seven runs and scored four others to lead the 19-hit attack. It helped the Red Sox move within two victories of tying the 1916 New York Giants for the major league record of 26 consecutive wins at home.

Evans hit a two-run home run in the first inning, singled and scored in the fifth, then hit another homer in the sixth to put the Red Sox ahead again. He wound up his hot afternoon with the triple that sparked a seven-run eighth inning.

Among other Red Sox who had big days were Mike Greenwell, who was 4 for 6 including his 19th home run, and Rich Gedman, who had two of the Red Sox’s six doubles and drove in three runs.

In the Fenway streak, the Red Sox are batting .342 and have 26 home runs. They have outscored the opponents, 167-77.

Today, in their final game against the Tigers this season, the Red Sox will send Roger Clemens (15-7) against Eric King (2-1). Clemens has lost two in a row. He has never lost three in a row.

The Red Sox started their onslaught Saturday against Jeff Robinson (13-6), one of the most effective pitchers in the league. Robinson went into the game having limited batters to a .189 batting average this season.

But he left the game in the sixth inning after Evans’ second home run. Robinson is 0-3 against the Red Sox after giving up 8 hits and walking 5 in the loss.

After watching Evans hit two balls into the screen atop the Green Monster in left, which is listed as 315 feet down the line, Robinson said, “The guy was drunk when he measured the distance.”

“Somebody told me I had seven runs batted in, but I really don’t get into personal stuff,” Evans said after his most productive game in 17 years. “You do it as a team.”

The turnout of 33,601 was the 33rd consecutive crowd of more than 30,000 at Fenway Park.

Minnesota 12, New York 2--Gene Larkin and Roy Smith are a couple of native New Yorkers who grew up rooting for the Yankees.

As members of the Twins, they didn’t treat their former favorites too well in this game at Minneapolis.

Larkin, a second-year first baseman who attended Columbia, hit a home run and had career highs with four hits and four RBIs.

Smith, who lived 10 minutes from Yankee Stadium, was a late substitute for flu-stricken Allan Anderson. He held the Yankees to six hits in seven innings to earn his first victory this season.

“I went to about 25 Yankee games a year,” Larkin said. “I had a little extra incentive.”

Larkin merely was making amends after hitting into a double play to end Friday night’s game, which the Yankees won, 6-4.

“I was a little down after that last at-bat last night,” he said. “I’m happy this was a day game because I didn’t have too much time to think about it.”

Texas 12, Cleveland 3--It was an afternoon for hitters. In this game at Cleveland, Ruben Sierra drove in five runs, and Oddibe McDowell went 4 for 4 and scored three runs to lead the Rangers’ season-high 18-hit attack.

Sierra’s 17th home run, a three-run shot in the fourth, gave Jeff Russell (9-5) a 9-1 lead. Russell went seven innings, giving up six hits and all three runs.

Baltimore 5, Milwaukee 0--Jeff Ballard pitched a three-hitter for his first shutout, and it ended the Orioles’ 11-game losing streak at County Stadium.

Left fielder Joe Orsulak hit a three-run home run and made three outstanding catches to help preserve the shutout.

Toronto 2, Kansas City 0--It could be that Jeff Musselman may wind up as the most successful survivor of rotator cuff surgery.

Musselman (5-1) gave up just two hits in seven innings at Kansas City to pitch the Blue Jays to their sixth win in a row. In his previous start, he held the Royals to three hits in seven innings.

Musselman underwent the difficult operation last winter and did not make it back until June 15. He has a 1.45 earned-run average.

Chicago 7, Seattle 4--Kelly Paris drove in five runs with a pair of homers at Seattle, and the White Sox beat the Mariners for the sixth straight time.

Melido Perez (11-7) gave up five hits in five innings, striking out five and walking one. Ricky Horton pitched four perfect innings for his second save.

Seattle’s Mark Langston (8-10) allowed two home runs, increasing his season total to 30, the most in the majors.