Other Maddux Lifts Boston Like Rocket

American League

With Roger Clemens injured, the Boston Red Sox turned to Maddux. The one without three consecutive Cy Young Awards, that is.

Mike Maddux, normally a reliever and the older brother of Atlanta’s Greg, had a strong outing in place of Clemens, out because of a sore elbow. Maddux allowed only an unearned run and two hits in 5-2/3 innings and Luis Alicea homered from both sides of the plate as Boston sent Texas to its 11th loss in 12 games, 6-2 Friday night in Arlington, Texas.

Maddux said his philosophy was to “throw as hard as long as I could only if I lasted three innings. It was a key win for us. That was the longest six innings I ever pitched. It got hot (99 degrees) out there.”

Scott Taylor, making his major league debut for injured Bob Tewksbury, allowed homers to Alicea and Jose Canseco. He gave up five runs and eight hits.

Maddux (2-1), signed in May after being released by Pittsburgh, allowed only an unearned run before he was relieved by Rheal Cormier in the sixth inning.

“Maddux pitched like his brother tonight,” Texas’ Otis Nixon said.”I kept yelling at him that his name was Mike, not Greg. He was tough.”

Alicea, a switch-hitter, homered batting left-handed against Taylor in the first, and homered right-handed off reliever Terry Burrows in the seventh. It was his first multiple homer game and the first time in 22 years a Red Sox player had homered from both sides.

“It was a big night,” Alicea said. “It was very unusual for me to do what I did considering I usually hit just five or six homers a year.”

Angels 13, Brewers 6

Milwaukee

Chili Davis and Tim Salmon hit three-run homers and rookie Garret Anderson had four hits and four RBIs as California routed Milwaukee behind Mark Langston (10-1), who won his seventh straight.

Twins 5, Yankees 3

Minneapolis

Dan Masteller hit his first major league home run, a two-run shot with no outs in the ninth, giving Minnesota a win over New York.

Orioles 4, White Sox 3

Baltimore

Mike Mussina (12-5) allowed two runs and six hits over seven innings to become the first 12-game winner in the major leagues and Rafael Palmeiro and Gregg Zaun homered as Baltimore edged Chicago.

Royals 4, Tigers 3

Kansas City, Mo.

Gary Gaetti scored on David Howard’s squeeze bunt with one out in the eighth inning as Kansas City defeated Detroit.

Blue Jays 3, Athletics 0

Toronto

Al Leiter pitched 6-1/3 strong innings before leaving with a blister and Ed Sprague hit a two-run homer as Toronto beat Oakland.

Clearing the bases

The Rangers are 8-17 in July, the most defeats in this month since 1988 when it went 9-18. … Rob Dibble, who was suspended for throwing at Milwaukee second baseman Pat Listach’s head last month, signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers. … Don Mattingly went 2 for 4 and in 18 games since the All-Star break is hitting .403 (25 for 62) for N.Y. .. Baltimore’s Rafael Palmeiro has hit in 14 of 15 games, going 20 for 55 (.367) after a career-worst 0-for-25 skid.