Don’t Look Now, but Here Come Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are back in the pennant race, beating nemesis Roger Clemens and completing their first three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium since 1986 with a 4-1 victory.

A sellout crowd of 56,028 watched a battle between Clemens and Bret Saberhagen. The fans, who pushed the Yankees’ home attendance past three million for the first time in franchise history, also saw a much more scary sight--Boston pulling within 3 1/2 games of the East leaders.

“We’re just playing aggressive, that’s all,” Red Sox Manager Jimy Williams said. “We know we have to.”

And with three weeks left in the season, there’s suddenly this concern: While Boston held its three-game lead over Oakland--a 4-3 winner at Tampa Bay--for the wild card, the Athletics have moved within 6 1/2 games of the Yankees, meaning a playoff spot is no certainty for the World Series champs.

“Why panic? It wouldn’t do any good,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said. “Everybody knows where we are and what the situation is.” Clemens (12-9) lost his third consecutive start for the first time since 1993 and fell to 3-1 lifetime against his former club.

Clemens held Boston to two hits for seven innings, but consecutive singles by Trot Nixon, Jose Offerman and Darren Lewis in the eighth keyed a three-run inning. Nomar Garciaparra had a sacrifice fly and Troy O’Leary hit a run-scoring single.

Saberhagen, who lasted only two innings on Aug. 17 and then went on the 15-day disabled list because a sore right shoulder, gave up three hits in five innings.

The Red Sox won for the seventh time in nine games. The Yankees have lost five of six. Boston, which trailed New York by 8 1/2 games on Aug. 30, has not been so close to the Yankees since trailing by three games on July 16.

Oakland 4, Tampa Bay 3--Jason Giambi and Matt Stairs hit two-run homers to help the Athletics move 15 games over .500 for the first time in seven years.

The Athletics (79-64), three games behind Boston in the wild-card race, have won four in a row and are in their best position since winning the West in 1992.

Chicago 4, Cleveland 3--The Central Division champion Indians, who started a lineup without regulars Manny Ramirez, Roberto Alomar, Omar Vizquel, David Justice and Harold Baines at Chicago, lost for only the fourth time in their last 13 games.

Mike Sirotka (9-13) gave up three runs and eight hits in seven innings. The win snapped Chicago’s six-game losing streak.

Baltimore 4, Seattle 1--Scott Erickson (13-11) pitched a five-hitter and B.J. Surhoff hit a three-run homer at Baltimore as the Orioles extended their winning streak to six games.

Cal Ripken had one hit in three at-bats to move within 19 hits of 3,000. He has 19 games left this season.

Toronto 5, Detroit 3--Darrin Fletcher hit a two-run double and Shawn Green and Carlos Delgado homered for the Blue Jays at Detroit.

Toronto, which started the day 6 1/2 games behind Boston in the wild-card race, won its second straight following a four-game losing streak.