AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Jose, Canseco Homer to Power A’s Past Red Sox

There are times when the Oakland Athletics appear to be almost unbeatable. Friday night at Oakland was one of them.

The Athletics chased Roger Clemens, then hit reliever Rob Murphy in an 8-3 rout of the Boston Red Sox.

A’s right-hander Dave Stewart outpitched Clemens for the second time in a week to improve his record to 6-0.

The big blow off Clemens (4-2) was a two-run homer by Felix Jose in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie. He hit a waist-high fastball deep to right. Both of Clemens’ losses this season have been to Stewart and the Athletics. Lifetime, he is 2-8 against the A’s.

Jose, who will be 25 next week, is an outstanding prospect from Puerto Rico. In his third opportunity, he has made the grade with the A’s.

Clemens left the game in the seventh inning after walking Rickey Henderson and throwing three balls to Carney Lansford. Murphy came in and walked Lansford to put two runners on and Jose Canseco hit a towering, three-run homer, his sixth home run. Terry Steinbach followed with another homer.

Clemens, who struck out Canseco, Steinbach and Dave Henderson in the first inning after the first two Oakland hitters reached base, struck out nine but seemed to tire after five innings. Canseco stole two bases. His steal in the sixth inning set the stage for Jose to win it with his third home run.

Canseco, who has six home runs, is nine for 10 in stolen bases.

Most people mention power and pitching when talking about the Athletics, but they also have outstanding speed and they play solid defense. This victory gave them a 17-5 record and extended their winning streak to five. They have a 3 1/2 game lead in the West.

Stewart gave up six hits in seven innings. Gene Nelson and Mike Norris each pitched an inning.

Detroit 3, Toronto 1--Lloyd Moseby enjoyed his return to Toronto.

In his first at-bat, the all-time Blue Jay hit leader homered as the Tigers went ended a five-game losing streak.

In their previous six games, all at Tiger Stadium, Tiger starters had an earned-run average of 8.20.

Dan Petry gave up a run and five hits in seven innings to improve his record to 3-1.

Moseby put the Tigers in front with his second home run of the season and Alan Trammell homered in the third for all the runs the Petry and the Tigers needed.

Chicago 5, Kansas City 4--Lance Johnson is listed as day-to-day because of his aching back. A rainout in Chiago Thursday night meant the White Sox center fielder would be able to play at Kansas City.

With his second hit of the night, he singled home a run in the 11th inning and Chicago (12-7) continued to stay close to Oakland in the West.

The Royals, a disappointing 6-15, missed a chance to win in the 10th when Bo Jackson hit into a double play.

The White Sox tied the score in the ninth with an unearned run off bullpen ace Mark Davis.

In the 11th, pitcher Steve Farr bobbled a grounder hit by Steve Lyons to start the inning. Lyons scored on Johnson’s two-out single.

Baltimore 9, Seattle 8--Brad Komminsk, in his first day in a Baltimore uniform after being claimed on waivers from San Francisco, drove in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded grounder in the eighth inning as the Orioles rallied to victory at Seattle.