AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Clemens Strikes Out Three, Loses Again

Roger Clemens has lost three of his last four starts. What’s going on?

“When Roger doesn’t win, it’s big news,” Wade Boggs said after Baltimore beat Boston and Clemens, 5-1, Sunday at Boston. “He’s supposed to win every time out and we’re supposed to get him a lot of runs. That wasn’t the case (Sunday).”

Clemens (7-3) allowed three runs and eight hits in eight innings, struck out a season-low three and walked one.

After winning his first six decisions, Clemens has lost to Texas, Detroit and Baltimore while beating only the New York Yankees. His previous-low strikeout total was four in the loss to the Rangers on May 18.

The Red Sox have lost eight of their past 11 games, including three of four in the weekend series against Baltimore.

The Orioles’ Roy Smith (2-0) gave up one run and three hits in seven-plus innings, struck out two and walked none. Mark Williamson finished with perfect relief for his second save.

Baltimore, which has won five of six, took the lead in the second when Joe Orsulak singled and scored on a triple by former Red Sox outfielder Dwight Evans, who scored when right fielder Tom Brunansky’s throw went over second baseman Jody Reed for an error.

Chicago 4, Oakland 3--Pinch-hitter Matt Merullo drove in two runs with a single in the eighth as the White Sox rallied for three runs to beat the Athletics at Chicago.

Chicago led, 1-0, before Jose Canseco hit a three-run homer in the eighth off Charlie Hough (2-2). It was Canseco’s ninth home run this season and his third in eight games.

In the bottom of inning, Lance Johnson and Dan Pasqua singled off Mike Moore (7-3). Robin Ventura doubled past a diving Dave Henderson in center and Steve Chitren relieved. Merullo then got his sixth hit in 10 at-bats as a pinch-hitter this season.

Hough, 16-8 against Oakland, didn’t allow a hit until Vance Law singled with one out in the sixth. Hough allowed three hits in eight innings, struck out three, walked four and hit two batters.

Bobby Thigpen, who hit Terry Steinbach in the helmet with a pitch on Saturday night, finished for his 10th save, getting help when rookie left fielder Warren Newson made a running catch to take a double away from Mark McGwire with a runner on first and one out.

Cleveland 3, Detroit 2--Doug Jones recorded his first save since April 28 and only the sixth in 11 opportunities as the Indians beat the Tigers at Cleveland.

Jones had more than 30 saves in each of the past three seasons and had a team-record 43 last season. Trying to find out what he was doing wrong this year, he studied videotapes of himself, but found nothing.

Also, he has already given up four home runs this season, compared with five all of last season.

The save was encouraging to Jones’ teammates, particularly starting pitcher Tom Candiotti. Candiotti (7-2) allowed three hits in eight innings before giving way to Jones at the start of the ninth.

Candiotti struck out eight and walked two. Jones struck out two in the ninth, allowing only a single by Cecil Fielder.

Detroit has lost five in a row and has dropped 11 of its past 12 road games. Frank Tanana (2-5) gave up two earned runs and eight hits in seven innings.

New York 7, Milwaukee 4--Wade Taylor won his major league debut and Ted Higuera lost in his first start of the season as Jesse Barfield drove in three runs at New York.

It was the Yankees’ eighth victory in 10 games.

Taylor (1-0) gave up seven hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings, struck out four and walked one. Steve Howe and Steve Farr finished, with Farr getting his third save.

Higuera (0-1), returning from a rotator cuff injury, allowed six runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Minnesota 4, Kansas City 1--Scott Erickson (8-2) won his eighth consecutive decision, allowing five hits in 8 1/3 innings at Kansas City. He struck out a career-high eight and walked one.

Tom Gordon (4-3) allowed four runs and seven hits in four innings, giving up three doubles, two home runs and a triple.