AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Red Sox Win, but No. 10 Eludes Clemens

The most elusive number for pitchers in the majors right now is 10. It seems nobody can get victory No. 10.

Five pitchers have reached nine victories and failed trying to win 10. Roger Clemens, in his second try No. 10, seemed about to do it Tuesday night at Boston.

He had a 2-1 lead over the New York Yankees going into the ninth inning and out strode the pitcher--Jeff Reardon--who set the record Monday night for the most career saves.

Reardon had not failed to hold a lead at Fenway Park in 11 attempts this season.

But Reardon failed in his bid to extend his new record to 343 saves. He didn’t even get out of it with a tie. A double by Kevin Maas and run-scoring singles by Randy Velarde and Andy Stankiewicz tied the score. Stankiewicz had struck out three times before putting the Yankees ahead, 3-2.

Phil Plantier homered in the bottom of the ninth and the Red Sox won, 4-3, when Ellis Burks singled with the bases loaded with two out in the 10th.

Burks’ hit sank in front of diving right fielder Dion James.

“He was playing pretty deep in the outfield,� Burks said. “I got the bat on it and I was screaming, ‘Get down, get down.’ �

Other pitchers who have missed their first chance at 10 are Rick Sutcliffe of Baltimore, Kevin Brown of Texas, Dave Fleming of Seattle and Tom Glavine of Atlanta.

In his first attempt to reach 10, last Thursday, Clemens didn’t have much chance. The Red Sox were shut out.

In this one, Clemens went seven innings, giving up a run and six hits. He struck out 10, marking the 51st time he has struck out 10 or more.

Detroit 4, Toronto 3--For the last 46 days, the Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles have never been further apart in the standings in the Eastern Division than a full game.

Mickey Tettleton made sure the Blue Jays didn’t change that in this game at Toronto.

Tettleton hit a tiebreaking two-run home run during the sixth inning and drove in another run to help Bill Gullickson improve to 8-4 for a team that has won only 28 games.

Gullickson gave up two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Gullickson has been strong after losing his first two starts.

Jimmy Key had a 2-1 lead going into the sixth, but after Cecil Fielder singled in the tying run, Tettleton hit his 15th home run.

“The home run has helped us this season because we haven’t hit for average,� Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson said. “But we haven’t hit many like that--to win games.�

Milwaukee 10, Oakland 0--The Athletics didn’t look much like a team threatening to run away with the Western Division in this game at Oakland.

In seeing their six-game winning streak end, the Athletics committed four errors and did not get a hit after the fourth inning.

Ron Darling, who had won six of his previous seven starts, gave up nine hits and eight runs, seven of them earned in five innings.

Paul Molitor scored four runs for the Brewers.

Ron Robinson (1-2), who had not won since Sept. 26, 1990, pitched seven shutout innings in his third start this season.

Kansas City 7, Minnesota 5--Mike Macfarlane and Brian McRae hit consecutive home runs during the sixth inning at Minneapolis and the Royals won for Kevin Appier (6-3).

The Royals had not hit a home run in seven games and had not hit back-to-back home runs all season. When Wally Joyner homered during the seventh, it was the first time the Royals had three home runs in a game.

Macfarlane and McRae seemed least likely to hit back-to-back homers. Macfarlane was batting .201 and McRae .207.

Appier gave up more than three runs in a game for only the second time this season. He gave up nine hits in five innings before the bullpen took over. Jeff Montgomery worked two innings for his 15th save.

The Royals are 25-20 since starting the season 1-16.

Cleveland 7, Baltimore 5--The chances seemed bright for the Orioles to move back into first place at Cleveland.

They were sending out Ben McDonald, who had shut them out both times he faced them, and his opponent, Jack Armstrong, had not won in six weeks.

But McDonald gave up eight hits and five runs in 6 1/3 innings and handed him his fourth loss in the last six decisions.

Sam Horn and Chris Hoiles hit home runs against Armstrong, but he went 7 1/3 innings for his second victory against seven defeats. Glenn Davis hit a two-run home run during the eighth, but it was too late to pull out the victory.

Albert Belle’s 14th home run during the fourth inning ended McDonald’s string of scoreless innings against the Indians at 21.

Kenny Lofton went four for five for the Indians, stole two bases, drove in a run and scored twice.

Seattle 9, Chicago 6--The Mariners, trailing by 6-3, scored six runs during the eighth inning at Seattle to end a three-game losing streak.

Tino Martinez hit a two-run home run to put the Mariners ahead, and Edgar Martinez doubled in two runs later in the inning.

Steve Sax hit a grand slam during the sixth inning to put the White Sox ahead.