Rocket Fires Red Sox Past Tigers

American League

Roger Clemens allowed three hits over seven innings for his first win in nine starts and Reggie Jefferson hit two of Boston’s five home runs Thursday night as the Boston Red Sox routed the Detroit Tigers 11-4.

Jose Canseco hit a three-run homer and John Valentin and Mike Stanley also homered for the Red Sox.

Clemens (4-8) struck out 10 and walked two in his first win since an 11-4 victory May 23 over Seattle. Since then he was 0-4 with four no-decisions and a 4.50 ERA in the longest winless skid in his career.

Brian Williams (2-6) allowed eight runs on five hits - including three homers - in four-plus innings. He also walked six and hit a batter.

Yankees 4, Orioles 2

Baltimore

Rookie Derek Jeter’s two-run homer snapped an eighth-inning tie and Jimmy Key won his fourth straight decision.

Tino Martinez also homered for the Yankees, who increased their lead over second-place Baltimore in the A.L. East to a season-high seven games.

Athletics 8, Rangers 3

Oakland, Calif.

Mark McGwire hit his 29th homer and Geronimo Berroa and Terry Steinbach each had two RBIs.

McGwire led off the second with a 430-foot blast to left field. McGwire, who leads the majors in on-base percentage and slugging percentage, has averaged a homer every 7.41 at-bats this season.

Indians 11, Twins 7

Minneapolis

Manny Ramirez hit a grand slam and drove in five runs for Cleveland.

Albert Belle and Jim Thome also homered for the Indians, who jumped to a 7-0 lead after two innings against Brad Radke (5-11).

Royals 3, White Sox 2

Kansas City, Mo.

Chris Haney won his fourth straight start to lead Kansas City over Chicago, which played without Frank Thomas for the first time in 346 games.

Thomas, leading the American League with 85 RBIs, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday - his first trip to the DL since entering the league in 1990. He has a stress fracture in his left foot.

Blue Jays 6, Brewers 3

Milwaukee

Toronto’s Juan Guzman scattered three hits over seven innings and Charlie O’Brien hit two home runs in a game for the first time in his career.

Guzman (8-6) took a one-hitter into the seventh before surrendering Jose Valentin’s two-out double and Jeff Cirillo’s two-run homer.

Clearing the bases

It’s got to be the genes.

Cal Ripken was in Baltimore’s starting lineup for the 2,240th consecutive game conducting business as usual despite the broken nose he received in a freak accident before the All-Star Game.

“Genetically, I’m a pretty good healer. I get that from my dad,” Ripken Jr. said before the Orioles played the Yankees.

Cal Ripken, who managed the Orioles in 1987 and 1988, had the personality of a drill sergeant and the leathery hide to match, his son said.

Kansas City called up left-handed pitcher Jose Rosado to replace Mark Gubicza in the starting rotation. A line drive broke a bone in Gubicza’s left leg last week… . Milwaukee All-Star outfielder Greg Vaughn, who spent the All-Star Game getting sick in the clubhouse, ate some soup but was too weak to start against the Toronto… . Cleveland first baseman Julio Franco was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled right hamstring. Left-handed pitcher Alan Embree was recalled from Class AAA Buffalo to take Franco’s place on the roster.