Explaining Loss Not Rocket Science

Roger Clemens didn’t get the loss, but he did accept the blame for Toronto’s 8-7 defeat at Detroit.

Failing to protect a four-run lead, Clemens left with the score tied, 6-6, and the Detroit Tigers completed their comeback on Saturday with the winning run scoring on reliever Paul Quantrill’s throwing error in the eighth inning.

Clemens, pitching at Tiger Stadium for the first time since striking out 20 last Sept. 18 while with Boston, was trying for his major league-leading 17th win. He took a 5-1 lead into the sixth inning, and left in the seventh after Travis Fryman’s three-run home run tied the score.

Clemens struck out nine, walked four and gave up 10 hits in six-plus innings. Clemens, a three-time Cy Young winner, leads the majors with a 1.78 earned-run average. He had given up five earned runs in his previous eight starts.

“That’s just a huge missed opportunity for me,” Clemens said. “When the guys come out and give me six or seven runs, I’ve just got to win those.”

The score was tied, 7-7, in the eighth when Brian Hunter doubled with one out. Bobby Higginson grounded back to the mound, but Quantrill (4-4) threw wildly to third and Hunter scored.

“This ranks right up there,” Detroit Manager Buddy Bell said. “Down 5-1 versus Clemens, even down 3-0, you don’t expect to be able to come back with the way he’s been throwing. The point of it is that he’s human; you don’t look at him as being human, but he is.”

Doug Brocail (3-4) was the winner and Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his 20th save.

Cleveland 7, Texas 3--Jim Thome hit a tiebreaking three-run home run in the sixth to help John Smiley make his debut with the Indians a successful one at Arlington, Texas.

The Rangers suffered their fifth consecutive loss.

Singles by Marquis Grissom and Brian Giles set the stage for Thome, who hit his 29th home run over the center-field wall off Bobby Witt (10-7). Thome also hit a home run in Friday’s victory over Texas after hitting one home run in his previous 16 games.

Omar Vizquel went three for four for the Indians, including an RBI single in the seventh that extended Cleveland’s lead to 7-3.

Smiley (1-0), acquired from Cincinnati in a trading deadline deal on Thursday, gave up five hits, struck out six and walked one in seven innings. Smiley had won his final four decisions with the Reds.

Witt, who dropped his third consecutive decision, gave up six runs--five earned--and nine hits in six innings.

Baltimore 13, Oakland 3--Mike Bordick hit a home run and drove in a career-high five runs and Mike Mussina and the Orioles overcame a shaky start at Oakland.

Mussina (12-4) surrendered three runs in the first. But he did not give up another run before leaving after the seventh, and defeated Oakland for the 12th time in 15 career decisions.

Chris Hoiles hit a home run and a double, drove in three runs and scored three. Brady Anderson also homered and hit an RBI triple for Baltimore.

Bordick, who left the Athletics in the off-season and signed with the Orioles, hit a two-run home run in the third off Carlos Reyes (3-3) that made the score 3-2.

Bordick had a two-run single in the sixth for a 6-3 lead and added a sacrifice fly in a four-run ninth.

Minnesota 5, New York 4--At New York, Paul Molitor homered and drove in two runs and the Twins ended the Yankees’ winning streak at four games.

Molitor gave the Twins a 3-2 lead in the sixth with a solo shot. His drive hit the top of the left-center field fence at the 399-foot sign and bounced over for his seventh home run.

Rich Becker had a two-run home run off David Cone (11-5) in the seventh as Minnesota went ahead 5-2.

Greg Swindell (7-2) pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief of rookie Shane Bowers. Swindell gave up only Bernie Williams’ 11th home run in the eighth inning.

Rick Aguilera got three outs for his 20th save. Chad Curtis hit an RBI single with one out in the ninth, but was caught stealing second by catcher Terry Steinbach.

Kansas City 10, Boston 3--Dean Palmer homered twice and drove in four runs and the Royals hit a season-high five home runs at Kansas City.

Palmer, who was dealt from Texas to Kansas City on July 25, is 12 for 34 with two home runs and eight RBIs since the trade.

Chili Davis, Mike Macfarlane and Yamil Benitez also hit home runs. The five home runs were the most by Kansas City since the Royals hit five at Minnesota Aug. 6, 1995.

Tim Belcher (11-9) gave up three runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Paul Sorrento Seattle 2 for 5, double, grand slam, 6 RBIs, 1 run Ken Griffey Jr. Seattle 2 for 3, double, home run, 4 RBIs, 2 runs Mike Bordick Baltimore 2 for 4, home run, 5 RBIs, 1 run Dean Palmer Kansas City 3 for 5, two home runs, 4 RBIs, 2 runs

Player Team’s Result Paul Sorrento Win Ken Griffey Jr. Win Mike Bordick Win Dean Palmer Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance John Smiley Cleveland 7 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs, 6 strikeouts Mike Mussina Baltimore 7 innings, 7 hits, 1 earned run, 4 strikeouts

Player Team’s Result John Smiley Win Mike Mussina Win

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