Clemens’ 10th Win Starts With a Bash

It only took Roger Clemens 11 starts with the Toronto Blue Jays to do what he did in 34 starts with the Boston Red Sox last year.

Clemens remained unbeaten, and became the first 10-game winner in the major leagues, as the Blue Jays backed him with their biggest offensive output of the season Saturday in a 13-3 romp over the Oakland Athletics at Oakland.

Clemens leads the AL with a 1.85 ERA after giving up two runs in eight innings. The Blue Jays ended a four-game losing streak.

At 10-0, Clemens has matched his 1996 win total when he went 10-13 for Boston. The three-time Cy Young winner is off to his best start since 1986, when began 14-0 for the Red Sox.

“I’ve had individual success many times,” Clemens said. “It shows that all the hard work is paying off. I was fortunate the hitters put a big number up, that makes a difference.”

The Blue Jays scored eight runs in the fourth inning, taking an 8-1 lead, and Clemens was in control after that.

“Roger is throwing the ball better against us this year than last year,” Oakland Manager Art Howe said.”His velocity has increased and he’s showing a little extra hop on his fastball.”

Clemens gave up eight hits, struck out four and walked three. It was just the third time he has permitted more than one run this season.

Baltimore 8, Cleveland 5--Cal Ripken broke a seventh-inning tie with a record-breaking home run at Baltimore and the Orioles rallied from a four-run deficit to win their fifth consecutive game.

In the ninth, Ripken made two errors that helped the Indians load the bases. But Randy Myers struck out Matt Williams on a 3-and-2 pitch to end the game.

Ripken’s home run off Jose Mesa (0-3) put the Orioles ahead for the first time at 6-5. B.J. Surhoff then singled and Jeffrey Hammonds hit Mesa’s next pitch over the center-field wall.

The home run by Ripken gave him 4,274 total bases with Baltimore, breaking the franchise mark for total bases in a career. Brooks Robinson held the old record of 4,270 total bases.

New York 7, Boston 2--Andy Pettitte avoided the first three-game losing streak of his pitching career, and Paul O’Neill hit two solo home runs at Boston.

Tim Raines drove in two runs and Scott Pose, in his first start for the Yankees, added a two-run double. New York won for the fourth time in its last 14 games at Fenway Park.

Pettitte (7-3) had lost his last two starts and was coming off his worst outing of the year, a game in which Baltimore tagged him for seven runs in six innings.

Pettitte pitched 7 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits, and one walk while striking out eight.

Mo Vaughn, who hit home runs in four of his last seven at-bats for Boston, struck out three times and flied out.

Milwaukee 4, Chicago 3--Pinch-hitter Antone Williamson doubled in his first major-league at-bat to bring in David Nilsson with the go-ahead run in the seventh at Milwaukee.

Jeromy Burnitz hit two solo home runs for the Brewers.

Chicago’s Albert Belle extended his career-best hitting streak to 26 games with a one-out single off Bob Wickman in the eighth.

Detroit 4, Seattle 2--Bob Hamelin doubled to highlight a three-run first inning, and Tiger pitcher Omar Olivares made the early lead stand up at Seattle.

The Mariners lost for the 12th time in 16 games and fell to 27-27.

Olivares (4-3) gave up two runs in 6 2/3 innings, striking out six. Todd Jones, the fourth Detroit pitcher, worked a scoreless ninth for his fifth save.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

*--*

Player Team Performance Team’s Result Dave Hollins Angels 3 for 4, 2 home runs, 4 RBIs, 2 runs Won Paul O’Neill New York 3 for 5, 2 home runs, 3 RBIs, 2 runs Won Alex Gonzalez Toronto 3 for 4, home run, 3 RBIs, 2 runs Won

*--*

PITCHING

*--*

Player Team Performance Team’s Result Ben McDonald Milwaukee 7 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 6 strikeouts Won Roger Clemens Toronto 8 innings, 8 hits, 2 runs, 4 strikeouts Won Julio Santana Texas 6 2/3 innings, 7 hits, 1 run, 3 strikeouts Won

*--*