Blue Jays Win, but Not Clemens

Roger Clemens pitched well enough to get his 21st win. And he would have gotten it if not for two unearned runs.

“I kept the game close, and guys did some late damage and got us a win. That’s what counts,” Clemens said after the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Chicago White Sox, 3-2, in 11 innings Thursday at Toronto.

Clemens, the only 20-game winner in the majors, gave up seven hits in nine innings, struck out seven and lowered his league-leading earned run average to 1.73. He was trying to tie Toronto’s record for wins, set by Jack Morris when he went 21-6 in 1992.

“I hit my spots and did what I had to do,” Clemens said. “I was down and away and up and in when I needed to be. A couple of times I got myself into trouble, but was able to pitch my way through it.”

After giving up two unearned runs in the first, Clemens retired 18 consecutive batters before Dave Martinez singled with one out in the eighth.

Toronto got the winning run in the 11th when pinch-runner Robert Perez scored on a wild pitch by Jeff Darwin.

Paul Quantrill (6-5) gave up two hits in two innings, helping Toronto to its fifth win in six games.

Kansas City 5, Baltimore 1--Jeff King hit a two-run homer and Larry Sutton added a three-run shot at Baltimore as the Royals handed the Orioles only their second loss in eight games.

Following a one-out single by Dean Palmer in the fifth inning, King hit his 18th homer.

Jose Rosado (9-10) established a career-high in victories, giving up four hits in seven inning to win for only the second time in 12 starts since June 23. He struck out seven and walked one.

Notes

The Chicago White Sox purchased the contract of outfielder Magglio Ordonez from triple-A Nashville. Ordonez, who was leading the American Association with a .329 average and 172 hits, will replace Darren Lewis, who was traded to the Dodgers on Wednesday.