AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Smiley Has Good Time Earning First Victory

John Smiley picked the least likely time to win his first game for the Minnesota Twins.

Smiley, winless in his first five starts, pitched seven shutout innings and earned the victory Monday night as the Twins defeated Roger Clemens and the Boston Red Sox, 6-1, at Boston.

Smiley (1-2) gave up three hits, walked five and struck out one before Bob Kipper and Carl Willis finished with one-hit relief.

“Opposing Roger Clemens, pitching in cold weather, it seemed I had everything going against me,” Smiley said. “So I was just trying to have some fun out there.”

Smiley was traded from Pittsburgh to the Twins during spring training. Kipper, a teammate on the Pirates last season, signed with the Twins in December as a free agent.

“It took a little while to get adjusted to this league,” Smiley said. “I’m trying to throw the ball, let the hitters put it in play and let the guys work behind me.”

The Red Sox loaded the bases in the first, but Smiley retired Mo Vaughn on a popup to end the inning.

Clemens (3-3) lost despite his fourth complete game in six starts. He gave up 12 hits and struck out six.

“Smiley pitched a good game,” said Clemens, who had given up only eight runs this season. “The breaks didn’t go my way early on, but I came out slow. I felt if I could keep it 2-0 after eight, then we would have a chance to win. But no such luck.”

Minnesota took the lead in the first when Shane Mack and Chuck Knoblauch singled and Kirby Puckett grounded into a run-scoring double play.

Ellis Burks hit his first home run in the ninth against Kipper.

Baltimore 8, Texas 5--Chris Hoiles hit a grand slam to cap a five-run seventh inning at Baltimore as the Orioles extended their win streak to six games.

The Orioles have won 10 of 11 at Camden Yards, their best home start ever. The Orioles’ 17-8 start overall is their best since 1970.

Mike Devereaux had two hits, drove in two runs and stole home for the first-place Orioles, who have won 14 of 17.

Hoiles’ seventh home run was a drive to left that popped out the glove of a leaping Kevin Reimer and appeared to touch a fan before bouncing back onto the field.

Alan Mills (2-0) pitched five scoreless innings of relief.

Devereaux stole home in the first inning as part of a double steal with Cal Ripken. Devereaux was the first Oriole to steal home since Lee Lacy on Aug. 28, 1986, who also did it as part of a double steal with Ripken.

Chicago 7, Milwaukee 0--Alex Fernandez pitched a one-hitter and struck out seven at Chicago for his first career shutout.

Fernandez (2-2) gave up a double to Dante Bichette in the second inning then retired 21 consecutive batters before walking Paul Molitor with one out in the ninth.

The White Sox sent 10 batters to the plate in the third and scored four runs.

Kansas City 11, Cleveland 6--Mike Macfarlane and Keith Miller hit two-run homers at Cleveland as the Royals won for only the fifth time in 24 games.

The Royals, who began the night with a .214 average and 70 runs, produced a season-high 15 hits and scored more than 10 runs for the first time since last year. The Royals have won consecutive games for only the second time this season.

Royals reliever Neal Heaton was ejected by home plate umpire Terry Cooney in the eighth after consecutive inside pitches to Albert Belle. Belle charged the mound several seconds after the ejection, both dugouts and bullpens emptied and several players exchanged punches.

New York 7, Seattle 5--Jim Leyritz tied a career high by driving in four runs with a homer and a double at Seattle as the Yankees handed the Mariners their sixth consecutive defeat.

Tim Leary (3-1) gave up five runs and six hits in seven innings. He struck out four and walked one. John Habyan pitched a perfect eighth and Steve Howe pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.

Leyritz homered in the sixth, chasing Russ Swan (2-4), for his first four-RBI game since June 30, 1990, against Chicago.

The Yankees have won seven of their last 10 road games.

Edgar Martinez of the Mariners hit his second homer.

Toronto 7, Oakland 3--Todd Stottlemyre won his fourth straight start, and Roberto Alomar and Candy Maldonado each drove in two runs at Oakland.

Stottlemyre (4-1) gave up three runs and five hits in the first four innings before settling down to retire eight of the next nine. Stottlemyre struck out seven and walked four before Duane Ward and Tom Henke finished with hitless relief.

Ron Darling (1-2) gave up six runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Rickey Henderson hit a leadoff homer for the A’s, his first this season and the 51st of his career, an ongoing record.