Roger Clemens tied a team record with 14 strikeouts to win his sixth game, getting a pair of two-run homers from Benito Santiago as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twins 6-4 on Saturday night.
Clemens (6-0) reached double figures in strikeouts for the 70th time in his career, tying Tom Seaver and Rube Waddell in sixth place on the career list as he moved into a four-way tie for the AL lead in victories.Clemens, who had lost his last four decisions to the Twins, hadn't allowed a run in his three previous road starts. He gave up more than one run for only the second time this season, allowing eight hits in seven innings as he nearly wasted a 5-1 lead.
He allowed two runs in the sixth then left after the seventh. He is 6-0 for the second time in his career, surpassed only by his 14-0 start in 1986. He tied Pat Hentgen's team strikeout mark, set May 3, 1994, against Kansas City.
Tim Crabtree worked the final two innings for his second save.
Santiago, who came in with just one homer, hit two-run shots in the second and fourth. His first gave Toronto a 2-0 lead and ended the Blue Jays' string of homerless innings at 89. Carlos Delgado also homered in the eighth.
Both of Santiago's homers came off Greg Swindell (2-2).
Tigers 6, Indians 0
At Detroit, Omar Olivares pitched a three-hit shutout as the Detroit Tigers finally found a way to beat Cleveland at home.
The Tigers ended a seven-game home losing streak to Cleveland, beat the Indians at Tiger Stadium for the first time since Sept. 4, 1995.
Tony Clark hit a three-run homer, his 11th, and Bobby Higginson also homered for the Tigers, who ended a string of 24 scoreless innings as well as a two-game losing streak.
Rangers 11, Red Sox 5
At Boston, Juan Gonzalez hit a grand slam and drove in six runs as Texas topped Boston.
Gonzalez's fifth career slam highlighted a six-run ninth inning. He also had a pair of RBI singles, including a hit that made it 5-all in the seventh.
It was just the second homer of the season for the 1996 AL MVP, who missed the first month of the season with an injured left thumb.
Yankees 5, Royals 2
At New York, Cecil Fielder singled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as New York rallied from a two-run deficit to beat Kevin Appier and Kansas City.
Still upset with a blown call in Friday night's 7-5 loss, Yankees manager Joe Torre was ejected by crew chief Rich Garcia before the game after he brought the lineup card to home plate.
Mariners 3, Orioles 2, 11 innings
At Baltimore, pinch-hitter Mike Blowers singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the 11th inning to lift Seattle over Baltimore.
Edgar Martinez opened the 11th with a walk off Randy Myers (0-2) but was forced at second on a botched sacrifice attempt by Paul Sorrento. Dan Wilson hit a single and Russ Davis flied out before Blowers grounded a single to left.
Brewers 4, Angels 3, 10 innings
At Milwaukee, Jose Valentin drew a bases-loaded walk from Rich DeLucia in the bottom of the 10th inning, helping Milwaukee top Anaheim.
DeLucia (2-1) walked three straight batters after shortstop Gary DiSarcina misplayed John Jaha's grounder leading off the 10th.
White Sox 9, Athletics 8
At Chicago, Dave Martinez singled home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth, sending the Chicago White Sox to a win over the Oakland Athletics.
Martinez went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs as Chicago won for the fifth time in six games. Frank Thomas also homered as the White Sox got a season-high 17 hits.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Giants 4, Cubs 2
At San Francisco, Kirk Rueter, tagged out in an odd triple play in which the Cubs took advantage of the infield-fly rule and the wind, atoned by pitching eight shutout innings as the San Francisco Giants beat Chicago.
Rueter (2-0) allowed four hits, struck out a career-high eight and walked none.
Rueter's baserunning, however, was not quite as sharp in the fifth inning when the Cubs turned the first triple play in the majors this season.
The Giants led 3-0 when Rueter opened with a single off Amaury Telemaco (0-2) and took second on Darryl Hamilton's single.
Stan Javier lofted a fly into shallow center field and second base umpire Bob Davidson waited before calling the infield fly rule - meaning Javier was automatically out and the runners could advance at their own risk. Three Cubs lunged for the ball before it bounced off center fielder Brian McRae's glove and hit the ground.
Braves 9, Pirates 3
At Pittsburgh, Jeff Blauser hit a grand slam an inning after Ryan Klesko and Javy Lopez homered in succession as Atlanta finally solved Pittsburgh's starting pitching.
Blauser's fourth career grand slam made it 7-0 in the third and allowed former Pirates starter Denny Neagle (6-0) to coast to a career-high sixth consecutive victory.
Phillies 5, Rockies 4, 10 innings
At Philadelphia, Darren Daulton's two-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning lifted Philadelphia over Colorado.
Gregg Jefferies opened the inning with a single off Steve Reed (0-1), but was forced on Mickey Morandini's grounder. After Scott Rolen struck out, Daulton lined a 1-1 pitch over the right-field fence for his third homer of the season.
Astros 4, Marlins 2
At Miami, pinch-hitter Ricky Gutierrez singled in the go-ahead runs in the fifth inning as Houston beat Florida.
The Marlins lost for just the fifth time in 20 games at Pro Player Stadium before a sellout crowd of 42,132, the club's largest at home since July 3, 1994, against Atlanta.
Mets 2, Cardinals 0
At St. Louis, Bobby Jones and John Franco combined on a three-hitter and John Olerud homered as New York reached .500 for the first time in over a year in a victory over St. Louis.
The Mets (18-18) finally reached .500 after three tries this season and for the first time since April 5, 1996, when they were 2-2.
Dodgers 2, Expos 1
At Los Angeles, pinch-hitter Eddie Williams, batting for just the second time this season, singled home Todd Zeile with two outs in the ninth inning.
Zeile singled with one out in the ninth off David Veres (1-1), and one out later, rookie Wilton Guerrero reached on a strikeout wild pitch. Williams batted for reliever Scott Radinsky (2-0) and lined a 1-1 pitch to center for his first RBI with the Dodgers.
Padres 9, Reds 6
At San Diego, John Flaherty and Steve Finley each hit two-run doubles during a six-run third inning as San Diego won for just the fifth time in 20 games.
The Padres snapped a 3-3 tie in the third by sending 10 batters to the plate against Reds starter Mike Morgan (0-4) and reliever Hector Carrasco.