American League Roundup : Clemens’ Troubles Continue, but Red Sox Win

It has not been an enjoyable season for Roger Clemens. In addition to his physical problems, the hard-throwing star of the Boston Red Sox is no longer a favorite of Fenway fans.

Then Sunday at Boston, as the Red Sox met the Cleveland Indians in the tightening race in the American League East, he and his manager had a disagreement.

Clemens, who skipped last Wednesday’s scheduled start because of a slight muscle tear in his right elbow, lasted only 11 pitches Sunday before Manager Joe Morgan gave him the hook.

With one out, Clemens gave up singles to Luis Aguayo and Pete O’Brien, bringing Morgan running to the mound. When Clemens hit Joe Carter to load the bases, Morgan was up and out of the dugout again. Clemens tried to wave him away, but the second visit meant the pitcher was gone.

The Indians scored three quick runs off Dennis Lamp, but the Red Sox battled back to win, 6-4, as Ellis Burks and Luis Rivera hit home runs off former Dodger reliever Jesse Orosco in the eighth inning.

Clemens was not available for comment after hearing the boos when he walked off the mound. The Red Sox announced that he was lifted as a precautionary measure because of “the tightening of a muscle in his right forearm.”

He did not accompany the team on the trip to Kansas City, where the Red Sox open a series tonight. It is not known when he will be ready to pitch.

Clemens, the favorite of the fans when he won 44 games during the 1986 and ’87 seasons, incurred the anger of the fans during the offseason when he said disparaging things about the city on a television show.

Baltimore 3, Texas 2--It is more usual this season for former Dodgers to do well. As the Orioles continue to recover at home from the nearly devastating effects of their slump on the road, Mike Devereaux is one of their contributors.

Devereaux, a part-time outfielder for the Dodgers last year, hit a home run with one out in the 10th inning to give the Orioles their second win in a row and their third in the last four games. It was the second time he hit a game-winning homer for the leaders of the East.

The Orioles had lost 13 of 14 before the turnaround.

Toronto 6, New York 5--If the Blue Jays fail to win the American League East, it will probably be because the bullpen didn’t do its job.

Duane Ward, the most effective reliever most of the season, lost Saturday and Tom Henke, once one of the best, almost blew this one Sunday at Toronto.

Fred McGriff extended his league home run lead to 29 with a two-run shot to put the Blue Jays in front and Manny Lee hit a three-run home run to build a 6-2 lead.

Don Mattingly’s two-run home run climaxed a three-run eighth inning but Henke, who had 34 saves in 1987, made it through the ninth unscathed to give Todd Stottlemyre his third win in eight decisions.

The Blue Jays trail Baltimore by three games.

Detroit 4, Chicago 3--Lou Whitaker, given most of the day off, hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to drive in the winning run and end the White Sox’s 13-game winning streak at home.

Frank Tanana (8-9) pitched a six-hitter and gave up only two earned runs to improve his lifetime record against the White Sox to 25-12.

Kansas City 3, Minnesota 2--Kevin Seitzer’s tie-breaking single in the seventh inning at Minnesota enabled Bret Saberhagen to improve his record to 12-5.

Saberhagen, who has lost only twice since May 4, gave up nine hits and both Twins’ runs in seven innings.

The Royals, who are 18-5 in games started by the former Cleveland High star, lost outfielder Willie Wilson with a hip injury in the fourth inning.

Oakland 2, Seattle 1--Jose Canseco saved the Athletics twice in this game at Seattle to keep them just half a game behind the Angels in the West.

In the second inning Canseco threw out Darnell Coles at the plate trying to score on Mike Kingrey’s single.

Then, in the seventh, he hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Stan Javier with what proved to be the decisive run.