BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Alvarez Pitches In to Keep White Sox Winning

Wilson Alvarez of the Chicago White Sox took a no-hitter into the seventh inning Thursday night, but Manager Gene Lamont almost didn’t notice.

“I was so excited the way we were hitting Roger Clemens that I wasn’t thinking about it at first,” Lamont said after the White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox, 8-3, at Chicago.

Alvarez (1-2), making only his second start of the season, gave up a single to Wade Boggs to lead off the seventh and a home run to Tom Brunansky before he was pulled. Alvarez, who pitched a no-hitter at Baltimore last Aug. 11, walked three and struck out two.

The White Sox won for the 10th time in 12 games.

Clemens (9-6), who said he has been bothered by an injured tendon in his right foot, lost his third consecutive decision for the first time since May 1989.

He gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings, walked three and struck out none. It was his shortest outing since he went five innings last Oct. 1 in an 8-5 loss to Detroit.

Frank Thomas had three hits, drove in two runs and scored two for the White Sox.

Cincinnati 2, Pittsburgh 1--Jose Rijo pitched out of jams in three of the first six innings as the Reds won at Pittsburgh.

Rijo (5-6) won for the third time in four decisions. He gave up six hits in seven innings, struck out two and walked two. Norm Charlton finished with one-hit relief for his 18th save.

Dave Martinez hit a run-scoring single in the second and Joe Oliver hit a run-scoring groundout in the fourth for the Reds, who ended a three-game losing streak.

Jeff Robinson (3-1) gave up five hits in 4 2/3 innings and lost for the first time in five appearances since signing with the Pirates on June 10.

Dave Clark hit his second homer for the Pirates.

St. Louis 1, San Francisco 0--Donovan Osborne won for the first time in seven starts since May 23 as the Cardinals ended a 25-inning scoreless streak in the victory at San Francisco.

Osborne (6-4) struck out five and walked two in 7 1/3 innings, combining with Todd Worrell and Lee Smith for a four-hitter. Smith earned his 18th save, his first since June 14.

Bill Swift (6-1) gave up one unearned run and five hits in six innings to lowered his earned-run average to 2.18.

Ray Lankford drove in the game’s only run with a double in the sixth.

Montreal 3, San Diego 2--Delino DeShields’ run-scoring double in the ninth gave the Expos the victory at San Diego.

Mark Gardner (7-6) struck out four and walked one in eight innings. John Wetteland finished for his 14th save.

Fred McGriff and Dan Walters homered for the Padres.

Andy Benes (6-6) pitched 8 1/3 innings and lost to the Expos for the third time this season.

Kansas City 8, Milwaukee 2--Kevin Appier pitched a six-hitter and Curtis Wilkerson hit his eighth homer in 2,256 at-bats to lead the Royals at Kansas City.

Appier (9-3) struck out four and walked one in winning his fourth consecutive decision.

The Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the first when Pat Listach tripled and scored on Kevin Seitzer’s grounder, the first earned run given up by Appier in 16 2/3 innings.

The Royals came back with three runs in the bottom of the inning against Ron Robinson (1-4), who recorded only four outs before leaving.

Kevin McReynolds also homered for the Royals. Gregg Jefferies extended his hitting streak to 14 games.