Rocket’s Red Glare Blinds California

American League

Roger Clemens is climbing in the Boston record books and the Red Sox are moving up in the A.L.’s wild-card race.

Clemens pitched his 37th career shutout, closing within one of Cy Young for most in team history, as the Red Sox posted their 11th win in 14th games Saturday, 6-0 over the visiting California Angels.

“That’s why I love pitching around here,” said Clemens, who allowed seven singles, walked three and fanned nine. “It’s rich in tradition with all the guys that have been here.”

Clemens pitched his first shutout since April 1994 and his third complete game of the season. In the first five scoreless innings, he battled Chuck Finley in the late-afternoon sunshine, which made the center-field background tough for the hitters.

The Red Sox opened the season at 6-19.

Athletics 3, Orioles 1

Oakland, Calif.

Ariel Prieto pitched four-hit ball for 8-1/3 innings and Terry Steinbach homered as Oakland snapped a season-high five-game losing streak by beating Baltimore.

Prieto blanked the Orioles, who had outscored Oakland 37-11 in taking the first three games in the series, on two hits through six innings. Rafael Palmeiro hit his 30th home run in the seventh for Baltimore, which had won five in a row.

Prieto (4-5) struck out six and walked one in putting together consecutive victories for the first time in his career. Mark Acre got the last two outs for his first save.

Indians 6, Tigers 3

Cleveland

Jim Thome hit his 25th homer, doubled and drove in two runs as Cleveland beat Detroit for the 13th straight time at Jacobs Field.

Orel Hershiser (13-7) sent the Tigers to their sixth loss in a row overall. They are 1-17 at Jacobs Field since the park opened in 1994.

A one-out error by shortstop Damion Easley on a grounder by Mark Carreon helped Cleveland score four unearned runs in the sixth inning and break a 2-2 tie against Justin Thompson (0-2).

Hershiser improved to 9-3 in his last 14 starts. Jose Mesa got one out for his 30th save.

Royals 4, Rangers 1

Arlington, Texas

Tim Belcher pitched a six-hitter and Kansas City stopped Texas’ seven-game winning streak.

Belcher (12-7) walked none and struck out five in his second complete game of the season. He did it against a team that began the night batting an A.L.-leading .292.

White Sox 6, Brewers 2

Milwaukee

Robin Ventura homered for his 1,000th career hit and Chicago snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over Milwaukee.

Ventura, who also had a run-scoring single in the third, hit his 28th homer in the sixth off Ben McDonald (10-8).

Twins 11, Blue Jays 1

Minneapolis

Dave Hollins hit a tworun homer and Minnesota took advantage of two errors in a five-run second inning to rout Toronto.

Paul Molitor and Marty Cordova also drove in two runs apiece for the Twins, who have won four straight and 11 of their last 13.

The Blue Jays, who allowed nine walks, have lost four straight and are on a 2-10 slide.

Rich Robertson (5-11) gave up three hits in 5-2/3 innings, leaving with a 7-0 lead. Erik Hanson (10-15) lost his third straight start.

Clearing the bases

Right-hander Sam Marsonek, the 24th player selected in June’s amateur draft, agreed to a minor-league contract with Texas. . . . Roger Clemens’ pitched the 97th complete game of his career… . Minnesota reliever Dan Naulty is finished for the season after having surgery to correct a circulation problem in his pitching arm. Naulty, a right-hander who was having a promising rookie season, had surgery Wednesday to remove part of a rib on his right side. It had been hampering blood flow to his arm, causing numbness… . The Rangers extended their errorless streak to 13 games, one short of the A.L. record, set by California in 1991.