Yankees, Pettitte Beat Clemens Once Again

Not even Roger Clemens is slowing down the New York Yankees these days.

New York beat the four-time AL Cy Young Award winner for the second time in less than a week, winning, 1-0, Monday night at New York for its 14th victory in 15 games.

Clemens (2-3) gave up just three hits in seven innings, and struck out eight to pass 2,900. But he was done in by his control, walking six as he lost at Yankee Stadium for just the fourth time in 14 decisions.

Andy Pettitte (4-2), who beat Clemens 9-1 at Toronto on April 22, got a third-inning sacrifice fly from Tino Martinez and a survived a line-drive double play off his hip to win his fourth straight start. Pettitte, 8-2 against the Blue Jays, gave up seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, struck out seven and walked none.

Jeff Nelson, Mike Stanton and Mariano Rivera finished with two-hit relief, giving New York its seventh straight win against the Blue Jays and sixth in a row overall. Rivera got his second save, keeping the Yankees a perfect 7-0 at home.

Oakland 7, Tampa Bay 6--Kevin Mitchell drove in three runs, two of them on a ninth-inning single, to lift the Athletics at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Mitchell delivered the game-winning hit against Roberto Hernandez (0-1), Tampa Bay’s $22.5-million closer who walked the bases loaded before blowing a a save opportunity for the second time in four tries.

Tampa Bay took a one-run lead into the ninth after Fred McGriff homered twice to drive in five runs en route to a 5-0 lead.

Chicago 10, Cleveland 3--Robin Ventura went four for five with two runs batted in and rookie Mike Caruso hit a two-run triple to lift the White Sox at Chicago.

Ventura doubled in the fourth, hit a run-scoring single in the fifth, a run-scoring triple in the sixth and a single in the eighth. He has three four-hit games this season.

The Indians have lost eight of 11.

Mike Sirotka (4-1) won his fourth straight start, scattering seven hits in seven innings. He is 5-0 in five starts at home over the last two seasons and led the White Sox to only their third win in 10 games.

Chad Ogea (0-1) lost his second start after opening the year on the disabled list because of arthroscopic surgery March 7 on his left knee. The right-hander gave up five runs and seven hits with four walks in four-plus innings.

Texas 9, Minnesota 4--Rick Helling joined teammate Aaron Sele as the majors’ only five-game winners and Lee Stevens homered, leading the Rangers at Minneapolis.

Helling, from nearby Fargo, N.D., struck out 10 in 8 2/3 innings. He gave up eight hits and walked three while improving to 5-0 in front of a personal cheering section down the right-field line of at least 300 people.

Helling, who left after giving up two hits in the ninth, joined Sele and Kevin Brown (1990) as the only Ranger pitchers to win their first five starts in a season. It is the longest winning streak in a season for Helling, and it was his sixth straight win dating back to last season.

Sele picked up his fifth victory Sunday.

Stevens tied a club record with his eighth homer in April, and Juan Gonzalez drove in another run, giving him 33 in the month--one shy of Tino Martinez’s record.

Seattle at Kansas City--Rain stopped the Mariners and Royals from playing at Kansas City, Mo., but it didn’t stop Royal Manager Tony Muser from sending his surprised players onto the field for a brief, waterlogged workout.

The moment the game was postponed shortly before 8 p.m. CDT, Muser ordered all the Royals’ position players onto the field for spirited running drills.

“I was kind of in shock and disbelief,” outfielder Johnny Damon said. “I didn’t know the game was canceled. When we walked out there it was still pouring and guys were getting ready to run. It was definitely different. But that’s the kind of atmosphere he’s going to bring here.”

While fans filed out and the grounds crew put down the infield tarp, Muser ran the Royals through a 20-minute workout.

“We just went out and played in the rain and got a little blood flowing, tried to break a little sweat, try to feel like the day’s not a total washout,” Muser said.

“It’s probably unusual. It gives me a good feedback on who wanted to go home and who wanted to stay. They all went out and did their work.”

No makeup date was set.