With a runner on third, Matt Clement threw a pitch that sailed over Jason Varitek’s head and bounced right back to the catcher, preventing the runner from scoring. Everything has been going right for Clement this season.
Clement (9-1) pitched seven strong innings, leading the visiting Red Sox to their sixth straight win, 7-1 over the Phillies on Saturday.
“I learned a lot getting to pitch with the guys I pitched with last year,” said Clement, who pitched for the Cubs. “It helped me mature and develop a plan.”
Trot Nixon and Bill Mueller each had two doubles and one RBI, and Edgar Renteria had three hits and drove in a run to help the Red Sox win for the 11th time in 12 games. Manny Ramirez moved ahead of Duke Snider into 38th place on the career list with 408 homers when he connected leading off the ninth. He has seven homers in the last 11 games and 18 this season.
Twins ask for patience
Minnesota is a respectable 39-33, leaving them 10 1/2 games behind the White Sox. Two of the Twins’ key players, catcher Joe Mauer and first baseman Justin Morneau, are 22 and 24, respectively, and Mauer played just 35 games before this season. Morneau is in his first year as a full-time starter. “[People] think we’ve been here a lot longer than we have,” Mauer said. “I haven’t even gotten a full year in. We’re still learning.”
Angels’ Escobar to have elbow surgery
Angels right-hander Kelvim Escobar will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow and is expected to be sidelined at least two months.
The 29-year-old Escobar, 2-2 with a 3.54 ERA in seven starts, has been on the disabled list three times this season because of elbow problems.
SATURDAY’S INTERLEAGUE GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Baltimore 4 at Atlanta 5
W: Vasquez (1-0)
L: Williams (4-4)
Andruw Jones homered (his major-league-leading 23rd) leading off bottom of 9th. Braves won for 7th time in 9 games. Orioles, who tied it with 3 in 9th, lost for 9th time in 11 road games.
Boston 7 at Philadelphia 1
W: Clement (9-1)
L: Padilla (3-7)
Johnny Damon extended hit streak to 12 games with triple. Edgar Renteria’s infield single was his 1,500th career hit. Phillies’ Pat Burrell fanned 4 times, has 3 hits in last 39 at-bats.
San Francisco 3 at Oakland 6
W: Haren (6-7)
L: Lowry (4-7)
Nick Swisher hit 3-run homer. A’s won for 7th time in 8 games. Moises Alou homered, doubled, singled for Giants, who made 5 errors and lost for 21st time in 28 games.
N.Y. Mets 10 at N.Y. Yankees 3
W: Glavine (5-7)
L: Henn (0-3)
Cliff Floyd hit pair of 2-run homers. Yankees are 0-26 when scoring 3 runs or fewer. Tom Glavine got 267th win, passing Bob Feller, Eppa Rixey for sole possession of 32nd on career list.
Texas 6 at Houston 5
W: Young (7-4)
L: Backe (6-6)
S: Cordero (18)
Michael Young homered twice, had 3 RBIs, Chris Young took no-hit bid into 6th. Rangers ended 5-game skid. Rod Barajas homered for 2nd straight game, Alfonso Soriano added 2-run double.
Florida 6 at Tampa Bay 2
W: Olsen (1-0)
L: Fossum (3-6)
21-year-old lefty Scott Olsen impressive in major-league debut, allowing 2 runs (1 earned), 4 hits in 5 2/3 innings. Carlos Delgado, Mike Lowell, Paul Lo Duca, Juan Encarnacion had RBIs in 1st.
Cincinnati 7 at Cleveland 12
W: Westbrook (5-9)
L: Hudson (1-2)
Ben Broussard hit 2 of Indians’ 5 HRs. Cleveland had 21 hits–Coco Crisp had 4, Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner 3 apiece. Reds lost for 1st time in 4 games under interim mgr. Jerry Narron.
Toronto 2 at Washington 5
W: Hernandez (11-2)
L: Lilly (5-8)
S: Cordero (25)
Livan Hernandez won career-best 10th straight decision. Nationals extended home winning streak to 12. Marlon Byrd drove in 2 runs for Washington, which leads NL with 26 home wins.
Minnesota 6 at Milwaukee 7
W: Wise (1-2)
L: Santana (7-4)
S: Turnbow (14)
Brewers rookie Prince Fielder, 21, son of former major-league star Cecil Fielder, hit 1st major-league HR, pinch-hit, 3-run drive in 6th. Carlos Lee had 2-run double. Torii Hunter 2 HRs for Twins.
Kansas City 2 at Colorado 4
W: Francis (6-5)
L: Hernandez (5-8)
S: Fuentes (8)
Pair of bases-loaded walks were difference in matchup of 2 worst teams in majors. Runelvys Hernandez forced in runs with walks to pitcher Jeff Francis and Eddy Garabito in 2nd inning.
Seattle 5 at San Diego 8
W: Peavy (7-2)
L: Sele (6-6)
S: Hoffman (20)
Xavier Nady, Khalil Greene hit consecutive HRs in 3rd. Poor start by Jake Peavy–5 runs in 5 innings. Despite allowing 3 homers, Mariners have given up major league-low 13 in June.
Detroit 5 at Arizona 1
W: Douglass (1-0)
L: Vazquez (7-6)
Omar Infante doubled, scored go-ahead run in 7th inning. Placido Polanco had 3 hits, RBI in 4-run 7th. Sean Douglass gave up 4 hits in 6 innings in season debut for 1st win since 2001.
L.A. Dodgers 1 at L.A. Angels 3
W: Santana (2-2)
L: Penny (3-5)
S: Rodriguez (13)
Ervin Santana overcame shaky start to pitch 6 2/3 solid innings. Orlando Cabrera hit 2-run double. Angels have beaten Dodgers in 11 of last 15 meetings. Win was 5th straight for Angels.
