AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Indians’ Victory Is 17th in a Row at Cleveland

Nobody, not even old nemesis Roger Clemens, can stop these Cleveland Indians.

The Indians broke a 43-year-old team record with their 17th consecutive home victory Saturday, beating Clemens and the Boston Red Sox, 8-2, behind home runs by Albert Belle and Carlos Baerga.

The Red Sox have lost 10 in a row, matching their longest skid since they dropped 11 in a row in 1932. They’ve had four 10-game losing streaks since.

The Indians, playing at new Jacobs Field, surpassed the franchise mark of 16 consecutive home victories set at Cleveland Stadium in 1951. It’s the best home streak in the majors since Boston won a record 24 in a row at Fenway Park in 1988.

The loss dropped Clemens’ record against Cleveland to 18-5. Although he once dominated the Indians, he is 0-3 in his last six starts against them.

“I don’t know if you ever get on an equal footing with Roger Clemens. But this is a much different ballclub than he faced in other years,” Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove said.

The Indians have won eight in a row overall, giving them the best record in the league at 39-25.

Oakland 11, Texas 10--Terry Steinbach’s three-run homer capped a five-run ninth-inning rally at Arlington, Tex., and the A’s then hung on after the Rangers rallied in the bottom of the inning.

Will Clark hit a two-run homer in the Texas ninth before rookie Carlos Reyes got the final out for his first major league save.

Geronimo Berroa went four for five for the A’s, who have won a season-high five in a row.

New York 4, Milwaukee 2--Danny Tartabull’s 469-foot homer broke a sixth-inning tie and enabled the Yankees to end a five-game home losing streak. The New York victory also ended the Brewers’ four-game winning streak.

Baltimore 11, Minnesota 6--Chris Hoiles, Tim Hulett and Cal Ripken hit home runs at Baltimore, but the Orioles had to withstand an equal number of homers by the Twins to win for the ninth time in 13 games.

Detroit 6, Toronto 5--The Tigers homered in their 24th consecutive game--one short of the major league record--and later won in the 11th inning at Detroit on Alan Trammell’s single.

Trammell, Chris Gomez and Mickey Tettleton homered for Detroit.

Seattle 3, Kansas City 1--Tino Martinez hit a two-run double in the ninth inning at Kansas City to key a three-run rally.