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

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

The powerful Athletics wore down hard-throwing Roger Clemens, then feasted on Rob Murphy in an 8-3 rout over the Boston Red Sox.

Dave Stewart, pitching as well in May as he did in April, 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.

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

Clemens was chased when he couldn’t throw strikes in the seventh. Murphy came in and threw ball four to Carney Lansford to put two runners on and Jose Canseco hit a towering, three-run homer, his sixth. 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 got on, struck out nine, but seemed to tire after five tough innings. Canseco stole two bases. His steal in the sixth inning set up the tying run and set the stage for Felix 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. Canseco keeps saying it is a dynasty building. He may be right. This victory gave them a 17-5 record, five in a row and a 3 1/2 game lead in the West.

Stewart gave up six hits in seven innings, then Gene Nelson and Mike Norris each pitched an inning just to get in some work.

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

In his first at-bat, the all-time hit leader of the Blue Jays hit a home run in the second inning and the Tigers went on to end 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 opened the trip by giving 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 Tigers needed.

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

With his second hit of the night, Johnson singled home an unearned run in the 11th and the White Sox (12-7) continued to keep the pressure on 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 had only himself to blame. He fumbled Steve Lyons grounder to start the inning and wound up scoring on Johnson’s two-out single.