Clemens Is 11th to Get 3,000 Strikeouts

Roger Clemens added another awe-inspiring moment to a remarkable career on Sunday.

Clemens struck out seven to become only the 11th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 2-1, at Toronto to sweep the three-game series.

Clemens, who got a no-decision, has 3,002 strikeouts for his career. After striking out two batters in the first inning, Clemens struck out Mike DiFelice, Miguel Cairo and Randy Winn in order in the third to reach 3,000.

“I just feel very blessed and fortunate that its worked out this long,” Clemens said. “When people call me a power pitcher, I really enjoy the second part of that because I think I’m a pitcher as well as a guy that can challenge you.”

Winn took two pitches for strikes and swung feebly at the third pitch. Clemens pumped his fist, catcher Darrin Fletcher gave him the ball and his teammates came over to shake his hand.

“When your peers congratulate you like that, with being real sincere about it, I enjoy that the most because those guys see me day in and day out and they see that work that’s done,” Clemens said.

Clemens, whose four children’s names begin with the letter K, pointed to his wife Debra as he left the field to a standing ovation. He then made a curtain call and tipped his hat to the fans.

Clemens gave up one run and five hits in 7 1/3 innings, leaving after giving up consecutive walks to Quinton McCracken and Wade Boggs.

Minnesota 5, Detroit 4--LaTroy Hawkins struggled but won his first game in three weeks, as the Twins defeated the Tigers at Minneapolis to salvage the final game of their three-game series.

Todd Walker hit his seventh homer and Ron Coomer went two for three with two runs batted in for the Twins.

Cleveland 12, Kansas City 3--Manny Ramirez hit two home runs for the second time in three days, including a grand slam in a six-run sixth inning, to lead the Indians at Kansas City, Mo.

All-Star first baseman Jim Thome and David Bell also homered and Travis Fryman had four hits for the defending American League champions.

Boston 15, Chicago 14--John Valentin’s RBI single broke a seventh-inning tie and the Red Sox, after losing an eight-run lead, resumed their torrid hitting and held on at Boston.

Troy O’Leary had four hits and Valentin, Mike Benjamin and Darren Bragg each had three for Boston, which has scored 15 runs three of its last four games.

Carlos Reyes (1-0) earned the victory, pitching a scoreless seventh before putting two on with no out in the eighth. All-Star Tom Gordon got his 25th save despite giving up a three-run homer to Wilfredo Cordero in the eighth.

New York 1, Baltimore 0--David Cone became the second 12-game winner in the AL as the Yankees matched the best 81-game start in major league history at New York,

New York won its sixth game in a row, 10th in the last 11 games and improved to 61-20, matching the record 81-game starts of the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates and the 1907 Chicago Cubs.

Cone (12-2) gave up seven hits in eight innings and struck out four.