Clemens Beats Boston for 14th Straight Win

He was booed. He was taunted. But Roger Clemens never let it affect his concentration.

Clemens extended his winning streak to 14 after Jorge Posada hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning of the New York Yankees’ 3-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday at Fenway Park.

The Yankees increased their American League East lead over Boston to seven games, sending the Red Sox to their sixth consecutive loss. The teams began a stretch in which they play each other seven times in 11 days.

Clemens (18-1), back in the ballpark where he earned three Cy Young Awards and many of his 278 career victories in 13 seasons with the Red Sox, struck out 10. He walked none and gave up seven hits in seven innings.

“I think walks have been hurting me a little bit,” said Clemens, who has issued 56 walks in 27 starts this season.

“I thought this was the best stuff he’s had in his last four, five or six outings as far as command,” New York Manager Joe Torre said.

The 10-strikeout game was the 98th of Clemens’ career, moving him past Sandy Koufax for third in major league history behind Nolan Ryan (215) and Randy Johnson (168).

Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his major league-leading 42nd save in 48 chances. The Red Sox got two runners on base in the ninth, but pinch-hitter Troy O’Leary grounded into a double play.

The Yankees rallied after Boston starter Frank Castillo, who won two games against the Yankees earlier this season, left after seven innings with a 1-0 lead. He gave up two hits and struck out four.

“Castillo really pitched well, probably his best game of the year,” Red Sox Manager Joe Kerrigan said.

Kerrigan pulled Castillo after he had thrown 89 pitches and retired 14 in a row.

“We tried to push him earlier in the year and that’s when he runs into trouble,” Kerrigan said.

Instead, Derek Lowe (4-10) ran into trouble. David Justice led off the eighth with an infield single and Posada followed with his homer to center field.

Lowe’s 10 losses are tied with Tim Wakefield for the team lead.

Baltimore 3, Seattle 0--The Orioles ended a six-game losing streak in a game called because of rain with two outs in the ninth inning at Baltimore. The umpires waited 45 minutes before calling it.

Outscored, 44-4, during their losing streak, the Orioles scored three runs for the first time since Aug. 23.

Oakland 9, Tampa Bay 5--At St. Petersburg, Fla., Eric Chavez drove in three runs and Jermaine Dye hit a three-run homer as the Athletics won their eighth consecutive road game.

Chavez, who drove in a career-high eight runs in a 15-0 win at Baltimore on Thursday, had a two-run double in the first inning and added a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Chicago 11, Cleveland 8--Royce Clayton hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, and Jose Valentin homered twice for the White Sox at Chicago.

Valentin drove in a season-high five runs with a three-run shot and a two-run homer.

Ray Durham added two RBIs with a solo homer and a triple.

Detroit 4, Toronto 3--One pitch after narrowly missing hitting Randall Simon in the head, Blue Jay reliever Pedro Borbon gave up a tiebreaking homer to Simon in the eighth inning at Toronto.

Texas 7, Kansas City 2-Rick Helling came within two outs of his fifth career shutout and Ruben Sierra hit his fourth career grand slam as the Rangers defeated the Royals at Kansas City.