Clemens Catches Up With Own Record
American League
Roger Clemens matched the only pitcher who ever has struck out 20 - himself.
The Red Sox right-hander equaled his own major league record Wednesday night, fanning 20 batters and pitching a four-hitter to lead Boston past the Detroit Tigers 4-0.
Clemens set the strikeout record at Fenway Park on April 29, 1986, against the Seattle Mariners.
He had 19 strikeouts entering the ninth inning Wednesday, but Alan Trammell popped out, Ruben Sierra singled and Tony Clark flied out. After going to a 2-1 count on Travis Fryman, Clemens (10-12) came back and got Fryman swinging.
Yankees 3, Orioles 2 (10)
New York
Ruben Rivera singled home Derek Jeter with two outs in the 10th inning, giving New York a victory over Baltimore and increasing the Yankees’ lead over the Orioles in the A.L. East to four games.
Indians 4, White Sox 3
Chicago
Geronimo Pena homered in the first as Cleveland turned to its bench one day after clinching the A.L. Central and still beat Chicago.
Pena’s first homer of the season, a two-run shot, was an historic one - it gave the Indians a club-record 208 for the season, breaking the mark they set last year.
Brewers 2, Blue Jays 1
Milwaukee
Pinch-hitter Turner Ward doubled home the tying run and scored on a single by Jeff Cirillo as Milwaukee rallied in the ninth inning to beat Toronto.
Twins 7, Royals 4
Kansas City, Mo.
Chuck Knoblauch tripled twice to raise his A.L.-leading total to 13, and Travis Miller got his first major league victory as Minnesota beat Kansas City.
Angels 3, Athletics 1
Anaheim, Calif.
Chuck Finley struck out 10 in 6-2/3 innings and Tim Salmon hit a tiebreaking triple as California snapped a seven-game losing streak with a victory over Oakland.
Torre will return
As his team prepared for its biggest game of the year, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said that manager Joe Torre would be back next season.
Steinbrenner, who has fired 20 managers since he took over the team in 1973, said he is pleased with Torre’s performance this season despite the fact that the Yankees’ lead in the A.L. East had shrunk from a high of 12 games to three entering their showdown series.
Clearing the bases
The Butte Copper Kings announced a two-year player development contract with the California Angels. … Kansas City’s 6-2 homestand was their best of the season and improved its record at Kauffman Stadium to 35-42. Still, it’s the most home losses since the 1970 club lost 44 in the second year of the franchise. Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove said it was the perfect time to give his starters a day off and that it probably would be a one-day deal as the Indians are still trying to keep the best record in the league.