AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Clemens Helps Extend Ryan’s Slump, 3-0

The matchup between Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens was everything it was supposed to be Monday night.

For seven innings at Arlington, Tex., they dueled with three-hit shutouts. Then in the eighth, the Boston Red Sox broke through for two runs and went on to beat the Rangers, 3-0.

Jose Canseco, making his home debut for the Rangers, went one for three and made a leaping catch against the right-field wall. Still, he was reduced to third billing as two of baseball’s most popular pitchers faced off for only the third time. They split decisions in early 1989.

Clemens (18-8) did not give up a fair ball from the end of the fourth inning until the eighth, yielded only three hits in eight innings and lowered his league-leading earned-run average to 2.18. He struck out nine, including a streak of seven in a row, to come within one of the AL record he shares with Ryan and Ron Davis. He walked three and also threw a pitch that hit major league home run leader Juan Gonzalez, who left the game because of a bruised left forearm.

Ryan (5-9) is winless in his last eight starts, going 0-6 during that span. He gave up two runs and six hits in 8 1/3 innings before taking himself out because of a strained muscle in his lower left back.

Milwaukee 2, Cleveland 0--Robin Yount closed within two hits of 3,000 and Cal Eldred won his sixth consecutive decision to lead the Brewers at Milwaukee.

Eldred (7-1), who has given up only two earned runs in his last 44 2/3 innings, yielded four hits in seven innings and reduced his ERA to 1.30. Of the 62 1/3 innings Eldred has pitched this season, 58 1/3 have been scoreless. James Austin pitched the eighth and Doug Henry the ninth for his 26th save.

Cleveland’s Kenny Lofton broke the American League rookie record for steals with his 51st and 52nd. The previous record was 50 set by John Cangelosi in 1986.

Minnesota 4, Seattle 2--Gene Larkin made up for a costly error with a two-run homer and a two-run double at Minneapolis as the Twins ended a three-game losing streak.

Larkin’s bases-loaded, one-out double to the right-field fence broke a 2-2 tie and made a winner of Scott Erickson (11-10). Rick Aguilera got the final four outs for his 37th save.

“He let in a few, but he knocked in more,” Twin Manager Tom Kelly said of Larkin. “He more than made up for it.”

Larkin, playing first base for the injured Kent Hrbek, made two errors. During the second inning, he mishandled a throw from shortstop Greg Gagne for an error that sparked Seattle’s two-run rally. During the eighth, Larkin booted a grounder that put runners on first and third with none out, but reliever Gary Wayne struck out two and Aguilera struck out pinch-hitter Pete O’Brien to end the inning.

Seattle’s Edgar Martinez went three for five to increase his AL-best batting average to .347.

The Twins made three errors, but Seattle grounded into four double plays and saw two runners thrown out at the plate.

New York 6, Baltimore 2--Andy Stankiewicz drew a bases-loaded walk to break a tie in the 13th inning and Bernie Williams hit a three-run triple for the Yankees at Baltimore.

Danny Tartabull opened the 13th with a walk from Alan Mills and took third on a single by Mel Hall. After Randy Velarde struck out, Matt Nokes was given an intentional walk to load the bases. Mills went to 3-and-0 on Stankiewicz, then threw a strike before throwing ball four on a close pitch.

After Pat Kelly stuck out, Williams cleared the bases with a drive to the right-field fence.

Kansas City 5, Toronto 4--Curtis Wilkerson singled home the winning run with two out in the 12th inning at Kansas City to snap the Blue Jays’ three-game winning streak.