Rocket Rings Up His 17th

American League

Roger Clemens became the first 17-game winner in the majors Thursday night, pitching a five-hit shutout and striking out 10 to set a Toronto club record as the Blue Jays beat the Cleveland Indians 4-0 in Toronto.

Clemens (17-4), who pitched his 40th career shutout, has 202 strikeouts this season. The old club record of 198 was set by Dave Stieb in 1984.

Clemens, who reached the 200-strikeout plateau for the ninth time in his 13-year career, retired the final 13 hitters. He threw 137 pitches, 81 for strikes, walked three and lowered his major league-leading ERA to 1.69.

Yankees 4, Rangers 2 Arlington, Texas

David Cone, power hitting and strong relief pitching. Defending world champion New York showed why it’s a strong threat to be a playoff team again in October.

Cone allowed only three hits in seven-plus innings and Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams homered as the Yankees beat Texas.

A’s 5, Brewers 4, (13) Oakland, Calif.

For the second day in a row, Rafael Bournigal singled to drive in the winning run, and this time he couldn’t resist jumping for joy.

Bournigal gave a celebratory leap down the first-base line when his 13th-inning drive over a drawn-in outfield fell in for an RBI single as Oakland, which blew a two-run lead in the ninth, defeated Milwaukee.

Tigers 8, Royals 4 Kansas City, Mo.

Bob Hamelin, released by Kansas City in spring training, hit a solo home run and an RBI double as Detroit defeated the Royals.

Bobby Higginson and Damion Easley also homered as Detroit improved to 53-59, matching last year’s victory total. The Tigers had the worst record in the majors last season at 53-109.

Glenn Dishman (1-0), who pitched a no-hitter for the Spokane Indians in 1993, won for the first time in the majors since Aug. 12, 1995, while with San Diego. He struck out a career-high eight in 7-2/3 innings for his first A.L. victory.

Red Sox 7, Twins 6 Minneapolis

Jeff Frye knocked in a run and scored twice as Boston beat Minnesota for its fourth straight victory.

Six different players knocked in a run and Boston also scored on an error by Twins first baseman Scott Stahoviak.

Red Sox starter Aaron Sele lasted 5-1/3 innings, enough to pick up the victory. Sele (11-8) gave up four hits and six runs, although only four were earned.

Clearing the bases

Baltimore first-round draft choice Darnell McDonald will bypass the University of Texas and get a jump on his professional baseball career. He has tentatively agreed to terms on a contract with the club that will pay him a signing bonus worth a face value of $1.9 million… . Twins owner Carl Pohlad is looking into the possibility of selling shares of the team to the public… . The Anaheim Angels may drop the Pioneer League Butte Copper Kings from their minor-league roster unless the team can be provided better facilities. The Angels contend their minor-league team lacks privacy at Alumni Coliseum ballpark and locker room space at Montana Tech.