Even the streaking Baltimore Orioles could not stop Roger Clemens.
Clemens, baseball's best stopper, ended the Orioles' 10-game winning string by pitching the Boston Red Sox to a 4-2 victory Sunday."It's about time," Clemens said after also snapping Boston's seven-game losing skid. "One win doesn't right the entire ship, though."
Clemens (7-5) struck out nine in eight innings. He gave up two runs on six hits.
Clemens is 96-32 (.750) lifetime when pitching after a loss by the Red Sox. He is 63-45 (.583) after Boston victories.
The Orioles came within one victory of matching the longest winning streak of the season, by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Baltimore moved from sixth place in the AL East to fourth during its string.
"We can't let down now. We've had a good run and we have to push forward to get to the next level," Orioles manager Johnny Oates said.
Clemens allowed only two hits after the second inning.
Blue Jays 13, Tigers 4
Tony Fernandez homered, doubled twice and drove in a career-high five runs, leading Toronto past Detroit. The Blue Jays avoided a four-game sweep at Tiger Stadium.
Fernandez is 5 for 10 with two doubles, a triple, a home run and six RBIs in two games since being traded by the New York Mets to Toronto.
Royals 5, White Sox 4
George Brett hustled for a double, giving him four hits in the game, and scored the winning run on Kevin McReynolds' two-out single in the 10th at Kansas City.
Brett took advantage of a high bounce in center field for his 646th double, tying him for eighth on the career list with Carl Yastrzemski.
Athletics 7, Twins 6
Scott Hemond doubled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning as Oakland won at Minnesota and ended a five-game losing streak.
Hemond, who began the day batting .163, had his first three-hit game in the majors.
Mariners 12, Angels 7
Tino Martinez hit a three-run homer in the second inning and every Seattle player had a hit by the end of the third. Dave Valle later homered for the Mariners.
Omar Vizquel's two-run single capped a six-run third inning that put Seattle ahead 9-1. Rich Amaral also drove in two runs.
Yankees 9, Brewers 5
At Milwaukee, the Yankees won their third game of the four-game series and ended a 10-game road trip 5-5. They left New York two games out of first, they return home four games out.
Rangers 5, Indians 1
At Arlington, Texas, Roger Pavlik gave the Rangers what has become a rarity for them recently - a well-pitched game.
The right-hander threw eight innings of four-hit shutout ball and Ivan Rodriguez backed him with a two-run homer and three RBIs.
National League
Rockies 9, Astros 1
Colorado swept a series for the first time with a franchise-record third straight victory.
Andres Galarraga hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, Dante Bichette had four more hits and Bruce Ruffin (3-2) held Houston to five hits through 62/3 innings after opening with five straight strikeouts.
Marlins 5, Pirates 2
Pinch-hitter Rich Renteria's two-run triple in the seventh inning led stunning Florida to its first sweep at home.
The victory - their fourth straight and eighth in nine games - gave the Marlins sole possession of fourth place in the NL East and left them 30-31.
Braves 9, Reds 2
Steve Avery cruised to a career-high seventh consecutive victory, and Mark Lemke hit a three-run homer.
It was the Braves' third straight victory after a team meeting prior to Friday night's game. Atlanta lost to visiting Cincinnati on Thursday night, sustaining its 10th defeat in 15 games.
Phillies 5, Mets 3
Anthony Young (0-7) lost his 21st straight decision as Philadelphia swept a four-game series at Shea Stadium for the first time in 13 years.
The all-time record for consecutive losses is 23 by Cliff Curtis of the Boston Braves in 1910-11.
Expos 3, Cardinals 1
Dennis Martinez pitched well, and visiting Montreal handed Rene Arocha his first major-league loss while averting a four-game sweep.
The win was the 199th for Martinez (6-5).
Dodgers 2, Padres 1
Orel Hershiser pitched well for Los Angeles, perhaps helped by exotic dancer Topsy-Curvy's visit with San Diego pitcher Greg Harris.
Giants 5, Cubs 3
John Burkett became the NL's first nine-game winner and Barry Bonds hit his 17th home run, giving San Francisco a three-game sweep. The Giants won their fourth in a row.