19-1 Clemens Pushes Streak to Record 15

Roger Clemens walked away with another victory and a few more historic souvenirs.

Clemens set a New York Yankees mark with his 15th consecutive victory, leading New York over the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3, Wednesday night at Toronto.

“It’s special,” Clemens said. “It’s nice to have the lineup card. Skip [Manager Joe Torre] handed it to me as soon as he walked through the door, and Mariano Rivera handed me the baseball. Those will be treasured, and I definitely will be able to look at those in the off-season and know what they mean.”

Clemens (19-1) also became just the second player in major league history to win 19 of his first 20 decisions. Rube Marquard of the New York Giants did it in 1912.

“It would be great to know about him,” Clemens said. “When you’re able to do these things, you should probably get up to speed on those records. I wish I knew more.”

The 39 year-old right-hander, the American League’s first 19-game winner, passed Jack Chesbro and Whitey Ford for the longest winning streak in Yankee history. Chesbro won 14 in a row in 1904, and Ford won 14 in 1961.

“I’m just very fortunate I’m still able to be a power pitcher,” Clemens said. “My body and my arm respond when I need it to.”

Clemens, seeking his sixth career 20-win season, will make his next start either Monday night against Boston or Tuesday night against the Chicago White Sox. Clemens, who hasn’t lost since May 20 at Seattle--a span of 19 starts--took a five-hit shutout into the eighth before Alex Gonzalez hit a two-run homer.

Seattle 12, Tampa Bay 6--The Mariners posted their 100th victory for the first time in their history as Edgar Martinez and John Olerud each drove in three runs at Seattle.

The Mariners (100-40) became the eighth team in major league history to reach the 100-win mark in 140 games.

Seattle, the only team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot, cut its magic number for clinching the American League West to six over Oakland.

Held to only 37 runs in their previous 12 games, the Mariners broke out with four runs in the fifth inning and five in the sixth. Ichiro Suzuki scored three times.

Boston 10, Cleveland 7--Trot Nixon went four for four with a two-run home run, four RBIs and four runs scored as the Red Sox ended their nine-game losing streak with a victory over the Indians at Boston.

The skid was Boston’s longest since dropping 11 in a row in 1994 under manager Butch Hobson. The Red Sox, who have fallen 91/2 games behind the Yankees in the AL East and Oakland in the wild-card race, are 7-12 under Joe Kerrigan, who replaced fired manager Jimy Williams on Aug. 16.

Oakland 12, Baltimore 6--Jason Giambi extended his hitting streak to a season-high 11 games with his 33rd home run as the Athletics routed the Orioles at Oakland for their fourth consecutive win.

Terrence Long added a solo home run and a run-scoring single, and Cory Lidle (10-6) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings.

Minnesota 12, Texas 2--David Ortiz hit two home runs and Cristian Guzman had four of the Twins’ 20 hits in their rout of the Rangers at Arlington, Texas.

Guzman homered and tripled, Ortiz drove in three runs and Jacque Jones also homered as the Twins tied their season high for hits. Minnesota cut Cleveland’s lead in the AL Central to six games.

Chicago 5, Detroit 3--Catcher Mark Johnson threw out two baserunners and hit a run-scoring double in the White Sox’s victory over the Tigers at Chicago.