American League Roundup : Clemens Hangs In, Red Sox Beat Yankees, 14-8

Roger Clemens rebounded from a first-inning injury, and the Boston Red Sox backed him with 19 hits Saturday in a 14-8 victory over the Yankees at New York.

“If I could walk, I wasn’t coming out,” said Clemens, hit on the left knee by Deion Sanders’ hard one-hopper leading off the first inning. “It would take more than that.”

Clemens sat on the mound while he was examined and resumed pitching about five minutes later. Clemens iced his knee between innings and had X-rays taken, which were negative.

“My knee numbed up pretty good, but we kept the swelling down,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it was scary, but it was my toughest start since I’ve been up here because I couldn’t feel anything.”

Clemens (7-4) lasted seven innings and was limping in the clubhouse after the game.

Nick Esasky, Rich Gedman and Luis Rivera each homered, Wade Boggs got four hits and Mike Greenwell drove in three runs as the Red Sox reached season-highs for runs and hits in their highest-scoring game at Yankee Stadium in 34 years.

Last September in New York, Clemens was hit in the hip by Rickey Henderson’s line drive leading off the first inning. That time, Clemens stayed in the game and pitched a shutout.

Seattle 3, Cleveland 1-- Randy Johnson gave up three hits in 7 2/3 innings, and Henry Cotto and Jim Presley homered as the Mariners beat the Indians at Cleveland.

Johnson (3-0) struck out seven and walked four before Mike Schooler finished with hitless relief for his 14th save in 14 opportunities. Johnson, a 6-foot 10-inch left-hander, was wild in the first inning, giving up a hit and three walks to help the Indians take a 1-0 lead. But Brook Jacoby struck out to end the inning, beginning a string of 15 consecutive hitters Johnson retired.

The 25-year-old Johnson was 0-4 for Montreal this season before joining Seattle last month as part of the trade that sent Mark Langston to the Expos. Johnson was 3-0 for Montreal last September in his first trip to the majors.

Detroit 11, Toronto 8--Chet Lemon drove in three runs as the Tigers built a 9-0 lead and hung on to beat the Blue Jays at Toronto.

Each team had two four-run rallies: Detroit in the third and fourth innings, Toronto in the fifth and seventh. The Tigers had 15 hits, three each by Gary Pettis and Pat Sheridan, and tied their season high for runs scored.

Both starters were gone by the fourth. Detroit’s Jeff Robinson walked three in 1 1/3 innings, leaving with a 1-0 lead. Jimmy Key (6-5) lasted three innings for Toronto, giving up five runs on six hits.

Milwaukee 6, Baltimore 0--Don August pitched a five-hitter for his second career shutout, and Gus Polidor had three hits as the Brewers beat the Orioles at Baltimore.

August (6-6) won his third consecutive start. His previous shutout was on Aug. 11, 1988, against Boston.

Jeff Ballard (9-2) lost for the first time in seven starts, giving up four runs and six hits in three innings. He was replaced by Mark Huismann, who gave up one run in two innings before leaving because of a strained right shoulder.

Oakland 5, Texas 1--Storm Davis, making his first start since May 17, increased his career record against the Rangers to 12-1 as the Athletics won at Arlington, Tex.

Davis, who was out three weeks because of a strained left hamstring, struck out six in five innings, gave up two hits and walked one. Texas scored on a second-inning homer by Ruben Sierra. Sierra has 10 home runs this season, five in his last nine games.

Davis (4-3) threw 72 pitches before Todd Burns came in to start the sixth. Burns gave up two hits in 2 2/3 innings, striking out four, and Rick Honeycutt finished with hitless relief.

Minnesota 11, Chicago 8--Jim Dwyer hit a grand slam off Bobby Thigpen with two out in the eighth inning as the Twins rallied from a four-run deficit and beat the White Sox at Minneapolis.

Minnesota, which trailed 7-3 and 8-5, began the eighth behind by two runs. Thigpen (0-3) opened the inning by hitting Dan Gladden with a pitch.

After Kirby Puckett flied out, Carmen Castillo and Gary Gaetti singled to make the score 8-7. Thigpen walked Gene Larkin on four pitches, loading the bases, before getting ahead 0-2 on Dwyer.

Dwyer sent Thigpen’s next pitch toright field for his second home run of the season and third career grand slam.