AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : By Keeping Smith, Red Sox Saved Clemens

The Boston Red Sox spent most of the winter trying to unload relief pitcher Lee Smith. They thought when they signed Jeff Riordan as a free agent, they didn’t need Smith.

Roger Clemens is happy the Red Sox were unable to make a deal for Smith.

Clemens became the first three-game winner in the majors Wednesday night at Chicago when he pitched the Red Sox to a 7-5 victory over the White Sox.

In each of his three starts, Clemens has pitched into the seventh inning. And, also in each of his three starts, Smith has earned the save with some brilliant pitching.

Catcher Tony Pena, credited with making a change in Smith’s delivery, singled twice in a six-run third inning that gave Clemens the cushion he needed. Pena talked the 6-foot-6 Smith into throwing sidearm to right-handed batters.

Smith, in six appearances, has given up only one run, a home run to Ron Kittle in the ninth inning Tuesday that beat the Red Sox. Otherwise, he has been nearly perfect.

Clemens doesn’t seem to be affected by the short spring training. He has pitched 19 2/3 innings, giving up nine runs and striking out 24 batters.

Wade Boggs’ two-run single put the Red Sox ahead, 2-1, in the third. Although he was picked off first, the Red Sox went on to score four more runs.

The White Sox were hoping Clemens wouldn’t have his blazing speed with only three days’ rest. But he did and struck out nine in 6 1/3 innings.

“I was pleased with my pitching early,” Clemens said. “My velocity was better than I expected. I credit that to the cooler weather.

“I’m glad we kept Lee around. He has been a big help to me.

“I think I was losing my concentration in the seventh. My legs were strong because of the weather, but my arm was lagging behind.”

Pena thought Clemens pitched better than he did in his first two starts.

Detroit 8, New York 4--When the Tigers added some power hitters during the off-season, it meant that Alan Trammell could stop trying to provide the long ball.

The veteran shortstop has gone back to being just a hitter. He is doing it quite well.

Trammell went two for three and scored two runs at Detroit to lead the Tigers to a victory and stretch his hitting streak to nine games, all the Tigers have played.

Trammell’s first hit helped the Tigers to their five-run second inning, which led to the win that gave Jack Morris a 2-1 record.

The Yankees had 15 hits, four by Steve Sax. The Tigers had 14.

Kansas City 7, Cleveland 0--Storm Davis, with offensive help from his catcher at Kansas City, held the Indians to five hits in seven innings to even his record at 1-1.

Bob Boone, 42, drove in three runs with a suicide-squeeze and a bloop double. Willie Wilson had three hits, including a run-scoring triple, and scored three runs.

Baltimore 8, Toronto 5--Craig Worthington homered and drove in four runs, including the tie-breaker in the sixth inning at Toronto, and the Orioles ended a three-game losing streak.

Randy Milligan’s three-run home run helped the Orioles stop the Blue Jays’ three-game winning streak.

Oriole Manager Frank Robinson held a pregame meeting that seemed to fire up the team.

Milwaukee 11, Texas 6--There are times when the Brewers score runs in clusters. They had 18 runs Monday night and came back with 11 in this one at Arlington, Tex.

The Brewers chased Jamie Moyer (0-2) with a seven-run fifth inning. Two Brewers scored on an infield hit by Robin Yount.

The Brewers built a 9-2 lead for Jaime Navarro, but he couldn’t make it through the fifth to get the victory. Tony Fossas worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings to get the win.

Minnesota 4, Seattle 3--Gene Larkin and Dan Gladden hit two-run singles in the fourth inning and the Twins were helped by four errors at Seattle.

Terry Leach (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the victory. Rick Aguilera got his fourth save.