AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Key, Wickman Steal Spotlight From Clemens as Yankees Win

New York pitchers Jimmy Key and Bob Wickman were what Roger Clemens used to be Wednesday--dependable.

Key pitched six strong innings and Wickman worked the last 2 1/3 for his first professional save as the Yankees capitalized on Clemens’ wildness for an 8-3 victory at Boston.

The longest Red Sox home winning streak in five years ended at 11 games.

Wickman, making his fifth relief appearance in 23 games, replaced Key in the seventh with New York ahead, 6-3, two runners on base and Andre Dawson, who had homered earlier, at the plate. Wichman got Dawson to bounce into an inning-ending force out.

“That’s a big out for us, and Wickman did a nice job,” Yankee Manager Buck Showalter said.

Key (14-4) gave up only five hits and allowed only one runner past second base through six innings.

Clemens, winless since July 21, was wild. He walked three batters in a four-run first inning, quickly ruining the anticipated duel between two of baseball’s best pitchers.

He walked six, one less than the high for his career, and dropped to 9-9 by losing his third consecutive start.

“His velocity was there,” Boston Manager Butch Hobson said. “I thought he had good stuff.”

Said Clemens: “I don’t feel like I struggled. I can’t be bothered by that. That’s the best I’ve thrown the ball this year. Hopefully, I can build off that.”

Toronto 4, Minnesota 2--Paul Molitor drove in three runs and scored twice, helping Juan Guzman and the Blue Jays win at Toronto.

Guzman (8-3), winning for the first time since June 26, struck out 10 and gave up four hits in eight innings.

Molitor hit a two-run double in the first inning and added his 17th home run, a solo shot, in the third to put Toronto ahead, 3-2.

He opened the sixth with a walk, took second on John Olerud’s groundout, stole third and continued home when catcher Brian Harper’s throw sailed into left field.

Oakland 3, Chicago 1--Craig Paquette hit a two-run homer and rookie Todd Van Poppel pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings for the Athletics at Chicago.

The White Sox have lost five of their last eight games, but still lead the American League West.

Van Poppel (3-3), who has won his last three starts, limited Chicago to three singles before giving way to Rick Honeycutt in the sixth inning. Dennis Eckersley pitched out of a jam in the ninth for his 25th save.

Oakland didn’t get a hit until Terry Steinbach’s one-out double in the fourth. Paquette followed with his eighth homer of the season.

Detroit 15, Baltimore 5--Dan Gladden hit a grand slam for the second consecutive game and the Tigers won at Detroit.

Gladden’s third grand slam of the season helped the Tigers take a 13-1 lead in the fourth inning.

Travis Fryman, Kirk Gibson and Tony Phillips also homered for Detroit. Gladden finished with a career-high five RBIs.

The Tigers had 17 hits off four pitchers, including Baltimore catcher Jeff Tackett, who worked a scoreless eighth inning. Tackett, the first Oriole position player to pitch since Todd Cruz in 1984, gave up one hit and walked one.

The Tigers have scored 30 runs against Baltimore without an RBI from Cecil Fielder, the major league leader.

Cleveland 7, Milwaukee 5--An error by Brewer third baseman B.J. Surhoff helped the Indians score three runs in the ninth inning at Milwaukee.

Down, 5-4, entering the ninth, the Indians loaded the bases against reliever Jesse Orosco (1-3).

Pinch-hitter Reggie Jefferson was hit by a pitch with one out, Carlos Baerga bunted for a single and the runners advanced on a wild pitch. Albert Belle, who hit his 32nd home run earlier in the game, was intentionally walked.

Paul Sorrento followed with a grounder under the glove of Surhoff, scoring two runs and putting Cleveland ahead, 6-5. Glenallen Hill then added a sacrifice fly.

Seattle 4, Kansas City 3--Mike Blowers hit his third grand slam of the season and the Mariners ended the Royals’ four-game winning streak at Kansas City.

Blowers tied Dan Gladden of Detroit and Mike Stanley of the Yankees for the league lead in grand slams.

Chris Bosio (5-7) struck out four of the Royals’ first five batters and retired the first 10. He gave up three runs on six hits.