This Time, Seven’s Lucky for Clemens

This time, seven shutout innings by Roger Clemens was good enough to beat the Baltimore Orioles.

Clemens outpitched Scott Erickson, and Joe Carter broke a scoreless tie with a two-run single in the eighth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays ended a five-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory Thursday night at Baltimore.

In his previous start, Clemens wasn’t involved in the decision despite throwing seven scoreless innings Saturday against Baltimore and leaving with a 1-0 lead. The Orioles rallied against the Toronto bullpen, giving Erickson the win.

On this occasion, however, Dan Plesac replaced Clemens and got one out before Mike Timlin finished for his seventh save.

Clemens (12-2) struck out nine, walked two and gave up five hits in becoming the league’s first 12-game winner. Clemens, who extended his scoreless streak to 17 innings, was lifted by Manager Cito Gaston after giving up a one-out single to Roberto Alomar in the eighth.

“I always want to finish what I started,” Clemens said. “But I was tired, and I don’t think I was his best man.”

Baltimore is 4-4 in its last eight games; all of the losses have been shutouts.

“I’m not embarrassed that we got shut out by Clemens. We lost to a great pitcher,” Baltimore Manager Davey Johnson said.

Clemens is 117-44 following a loss by his team, including 6-0 in seven starts this year.

Tilson Brito opened the eighth with a single off Erickson (10-3). Erickson walked Otis Nixon before Jesse Orosco walked Orlando Merced, loading the bases.

Armando Benitez came in to face Carter, who bounced a single past the drawn-in infield. Carlos Delgado then lined an RBI single to left for a 3-0 lead.

Erickson gave up four hits, three walks and two runs. But he was outdone by Clemens, who lowered his earned-run average to 1.79.

Chicago 11, Minnesota 1--James Baldwin gave up one run over seven innings and Frank Thomas and Harold Baines each had three RBIs as the White Sox routed the Twins at Minneapolis for their sixth consecutive victory.

Baldwin (5-8) took a three-hit shutout into the seventh. He had six strikeouts and walked two.

The White Sox broke open the game with four homers in the final three innings, all off Twin relievers.

The Twins trailed, 4-0, to start the seventh, but Mike Trombley relieved Twin starter LaTroy Hawkins and surrendered singles to Ray Durham, Dave Martinez and Thomas for a 5-0 lead.

Eddie Guardado gave up Baines’ three-run homer to left field, his ninth.

Two batters later, Mike Cameron hit a solo homer off Guardado to make the score 9-0.

Minnesota’s only run came in the seventh on Ron Coomer’s double and Marty Cordova’s RBI groundout.

Kansas City 4, Milwaukee 3--Chili Davis hit a two-run homer to cap a four-run fourth inning at Kansas City and the Royals ended their losing streak at three games.

Chris Haney (1-2), making his second start since recovering from a broken left ankle, got his first victory since Sept. 17.

Ricky Bones followed with 2 1/3 innings of two-hit relief. Bones, 47-56 with Milwaukee from 1992-96, was the Brewers’ opening-day starter in 1995 and 1996.

Jeff Cirillo tripled against Bones leading off the ninth and scored on Dave Nilsson’s sacrifice fly.

Jeff Montgomery then finished for his third save.

Detroit 10, Boston 6--Brian Hunter stole four bases to lead the Tigers at Boston.

Hunter reached base in all five plate appearances as the Tigers overcame solo homers by Mike Stanley, John Valentin and Shane Mack to stop Boston’s four-game winning streak.

Hunter started the day tied with Toronto’s Nixon for the league lead with 33 steals. He added two in the first inning and later passed his previous career best of 35, set last year with Houston.

Brian Moehler (5-6) beat Vaughn Eshelman (1-3) for the second time in six days. Moehler gave up five runs in 5 2/3 innings, while Eshelman gave up five in three innings, leaving with Detroit ahead, 5-1.

John Wasdin then gave up three runs in the fourth, and Joe Hudson gave up two more in the fifth, when Detroit took a 10-2 lead.

Boston closed to 10-6, getting Mack’s second homer of the year in the fifth, run-scoring singles by Scott Hatteberg and Troy O’Leary in the sixth and an RBI single by Valentin in the seventh.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Frank Thomas Chicago 2 for 4, 3 RBIs, hitting .386 Win James Cameron Chicago 2 for 5, 2 home runs Win Mark McGwire Oakland first-inning grand slam Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Roger Clemens Toronto 7 1/3 innings, no runs, 9 strikeouts Win Jamie Moyer Seattle 7 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs Win James Baldwin Chicago 7 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 6 strikeouts Win

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