Clemens Continues to Ride Momentum

As he emerged from the bullpen, dripping in sweat after taking his warmup throws, Roger Clemens was thinking only of survival.

“It was so hot, I had to readjust my sights. I just wanted to try and outlast the other guy,” he said.

After Baltimore starter Sidney Ponson left early because of a blister, Clemens went on to win his eighth consecutive start, leading the New York Yankees to a 4-3 victory the Orioles Wednesday at Baltimore.

Paul O’Neill hit a three-run homer for the Yankees, who stretched their winning streak to seven. New York, which took over first place in the American League East on Tuesday for the first time since May 31, maintained its half-game edge over second-place Boston.

Clemens (12-1), selected to his eighth American League all-star team earlier in the day by Yankee Manager Joe Torre, marked the occasion by giving up two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.

The five-time Cy Young Award winner, unbeaten since May 20, struck out six and walked one in improving to 21-3 since coming off the disabled list on July 2, 2000.

“I’m just trying to ride the momentum every time I go out there,” Clemens said.

Clemens is 5-5 at Camden Yards, and does not have a losing record at any AL stadium.

Boston 13, Cleveland 4--Dante Bichette was four for five with a two-run homer and a two-run double at Cleveland.

Manny Ramirez, still getting a mixture of boos and cheers from Cleveland fans, went two for five and scored two runs against his former team.

Jose Offerman had four singles and two runs batted in for the Red Sox, who built an 8-1 lead against Dave Burba (8-6) and matched their season high with 19 hits.

Toronto 8, Tampa Bay 1--The Devil Rays (25-59) set an AL record for losses before the all-star break.

Steve Parris (4-5), who hadn’t won in more than six weeks, gave up seven hits at St. Petersburg, Fla., in his fifth career complete game.

Carlos Delgado, in a two-for-27 slump coming in, went two for three and drove in two runs for the Blue Jays, who stopped a four-game losing streak. Jose Cruz also had two hits and two RBIs, while Brad Fullmer went four for five.

Because Tampa Bay only has four more games before the All-Star break, the Devil Rays don’t have a shot at the record of 66 losses before the break set by the 1962 New York Mets.

Detroit 6, Kansas City 4--Shane Halter’s sacrifice fly off Cory Bailey (1-1) after a seventh-inning rain delay broke a 3-3 tie at Detroit.

The Tigers have won two in a row after an eight-game losing streak and Kansas City has lost three in a row.

Jeff Weaver (7-8) gave up four runs--only one earned--and five hits in seven innings. Matt Anderson got three outs for his seventh save.

Chicago 4, Minnesota 3--Sandy Alomar doubled home the winning run in the ninth inning at Chicago as the White Sox rallied and defeated the Twins and ended their five-game winning streak.

Chicago’s two-run ninth came against closer LaTroy Hawkins (1-2) as the White Sox beat the first-place Twins for only the second time in 12 games.

Texas 6, Seattle 3--Rob Bell pitched into the seventh inning and Rafael Palmeiro homered as the Rangers won at Arlington, Texas, to snap the Mariners’ five-game winning streak. Palmeiro hit his 422nd career homer to pass Cal Ripken Jr. for 29th place on the all-time list.