Baseball Roundup : Clemens Wins Back Red Sox Fans, 9-1

Roger Clemens, booed during introductions on opening day for remarks he made about Boston last winter, wasted little time in swaying his critics in his 1989 Fenway Park debut Thursday.

Clemens allowed three singles and struck out eight through seven innings as the Boston Red Sox routed the Cleveland Indians, 9-1.

The fans cheered the right-hander when he struck out Brook Jacoby with the bases loaded in the second inning for his 1,000th career strikeout.

“I have no control over what people do,” Clemens said of the fans’ reaction. “It’s not going to have any bearing on what I do, either way.”

Clemens, with an eight-run lead, gave way to reliever Mike Smithson after seven innings.

Clemens became the fourth Red Sox pitcher to reach the 1,000-strikeout milestone. With 1,005 strikeouts, he trails Cy Young, who had 1,341; Luis Tiant, with 1,075, and Bruce Hurst, with 1,043.

Detroit 3, Minnesota 0--Jeff Robinson pitched a four-hitter, and an error by Minnesota shortstop Greg Gagne allowed two runs to score at Detroit as the Tigers defeated the Twins for the first time in their last 13 meetings.

Texas 6, Milwaukee 1--Julio Franco drove in four runs for the second straight game, and Bobby Witt scattered seven hits over eight innings as the Rangers beat the Brewers at Milwaukee.

The Rangers are off to their best start since 1979, having won seven of their first eight games.

Pittsburgh 4, New York 2--John Smiley took a one-hit shutout into the ninth, and Jeff Robinson provided the necessary relief as the Pirates beat the Mets at Pittsburgh.

The Pirates beat Ron Darling (0-2) for the first time in seven attempts.

Atlanta 4, San Diego 1--Derek Lilliquist allowed three hits over 7 1/3 innings in his major league debut at San Diego, leading the Braves past the Padres.

Gerald Perry hit a home run for Atlanta, Luis Salazar had one for San Diego.