AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Clemens Cuts Down A’s in Oakland, 8-1

Roger Clemens was making his first start at the Oakland Coliseum since umpire Terry Cooney ejected him in Game 4 of last year’s American League playoffs.

And just as he did last October, Clemens left the game before its conclusion.

This time, however, Clemens left on his own, and only after giving up one run and two hits in eight innings Saturday as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Oakland Athletics, 8-1.

Clemens (8-3), coming off five outings in which he went 1-3 with a 4.50 earned-run average, allowed the A’s little more than Dave Henderson’s major league-leading 15th home run in the second inning.

Clemens, who opened the season by winning six consecutive games with an 0.73 ERA--including 30 consecutive scoreless innings--then gave up a ground-rule double to Ernest Riles, but did not allow another Oakland runner to reach scoring position.

“He didn’t seem to have his best stuff, but he had enough to shut us down,” Oakland’s Mike Gallego said of Clemens. “It wasn’t vintage Clemens, but it was enough.”

After surrendering the two hits, Clemens retired 20 of the next 22 hitters. He struck out five and walked two before Dennis Lamp got the last three outs.

“It’s been work out there the last two or three times out,” Clemens said. “When I say I’ve been struggling, I’m not talking about statistics. I’m talking about my mechanics, my release point. . . . I think I started to pick up some velocity in the middle part of the game.”

Joe Slusarski (2-3) gave up five runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings. After Wade Boggs’ leadoff single in the third, Slusarski retired 15 of the next 16 hitters before giving up consecutive singles to Steve Lyons and Boggs to open the eighth.

The Red Sox scored three runs in the second on consecutive bases-loaded singles by Phil Plantier and Tony Pena.

Minnesota 2, Cleveland 1--Right-hander Scott Erickson won his ninth consecutive decision as the Twins beat the Indians at Minneapolis.

Chili Davis broke a scoreless tie with a bad-hop double in the sixth inning to help the Twins win their seventh in a row.

Erickson (9-2) gave up nine hits in 8 2/3 innings and lowered his major league-leading ERA to1.53 while striking out out seven and walking two. He left after pinch-hitter Turner Ward’s run-scoring single, giving way to Rick Aguilera, who walked Alex Cole before retiring Mark Lewis with the bases loaded for his 15th save.

Charles Nagy (2-6) took the loss.

New York 10, Texas 7--The Yankees hit four home runs at New York en route to their 11th victory in 15 games.

Jesse Barfield’s three-run homer off Mark Petkovsek (0-1) capped a five-run first inning. Matt Nokes, Mel Hall and Steve Sax also homered for the Yankees, who dealt the Rangers their sixth consecutive loss.

Wade Taylor (2-0) earned the victory despite giving up eight hits and four runs over the first five innings. Steve Farr earned his fifth save.

Seattle 6, Milwaukee 2--Alvin Davis hit a three-run homer at Seattle as the Mariners handed the Brewers their sixth consecutive loss.

Davis hit his fifth homer off reliever Kevin Brown to give Seattle a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning after Edgar Martinez and Tracy Jones singled off Bill Wegman (2-2).

Rich DeLucia (6-3), who pitched two innings in Detroit Wednesday night, gave up four hits, struck out three and walked one in six innings.

Rookie Dave Burba finished for his first save.

Toronto 8, Baltimore 4--The Blue Jays broke a tie with six runs in the eighth inning at Baltimore, enabling them to cling to their half-game lead over Boston in the American League East.

Joe Carter had three RBIs and Roberto Alomar stole a career-high four bases for the Blue Jays, who entered the game having lost nine of 13.

Jimmy Key (9-2) gave up nine hits and two runs in seven innings to remain unbeaten since May 7.

Paul Kilgus (0-1) took the loss.

Chicago 14, Kansas City 7--The White Sox got 18 hits at Kansas City and matched their biggest run production of the season.

Tim Raines had four RBIs and every White Sox starter had at least one hit--including a three-run homer by Carlton Fisk.

Ozzie Guillen had four hits in support of Greg Hibbard (4-4), who pitched six innings.

Tom Gordon (4-4) gave up 10 hits and 10 runs in 4 1/3 innings. Gordon’s ERA has ballooned from 1.72 to 3.41 in his past two starts.