A’s and Haynes Top Blue Jays, Clemens

Jimmy Haynes had not won since April 4, and was matched up against Roger Clemens. Not that he was worried.

“I think I can go out there and beat any pitcher any time,” Haynes said Wednesday night after the Oakland Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-2.

“I knew going out that I’d have to keep the score low. It’s always nice to win against a big pitcher like that,” he said.

Haynes (2-1), who had not won in last six starts, allowed one earned run and five hits in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked one.

“It’s kind of frustrating, but you can’t control that,” he said of his winless drought. “You’ve just got to stick with it and hopefully you’ll get some wins.”

Clemens (4-4) allowed four runs, only one of them earned, with nine strikeouts and six walks in eight innings.

“I wanted to finish out the eighth inning to give the guys in the bullpen somewhat of a rest,” Clemens said.

The score was tied, 1-1, when Clemens walked Matt Stairs and Jason Giambi to start the eighth. Clemens then misplayed Scott Spiezio’s comebacker, loading the bases.

He struck out Kurt Abbott for the first out, and A.J. Hinch drove in the go-ahead run with a forceout. Jack Voigt’s two-run double made it 4-1.

Voigt was batting only .111, and was playing because A’s Manager Art Howe gave the day off to Rickey Henderson.

“It’s nice to know that Art stuck with me. He’s got enough confidence to put me in there,” Voigt said.

The Blue Jays scored once in the eighth, but left the bases loaded when Mike Fetters retired Mike Stanley on a foul out. Fetters pitched the ninth for his second save.