AL: Yankees beat Tigers in 17, but Clemens stays at 299
By Compiled from Times wires
Published June 2, 2003
DETROIT - The Clemens family and some very close friends are now planning an unexpected trip to Chicago.
Roger Clemens remained one victory shy of career No. 300 when the New York Yankees couldn't hold a six-run lead, leaving Clemens with a no-decision in a 10-9 win in 17 innings against the Tigers.
"We're glad that Roger is going to have to do it somewhere else," Tigers manager Alan Trammell said.
Alfonso Soriano and Jorge Posada homered off Steve Sparks in the 17th inning.
Clemens' chase of 300 is scheduled to continue Saturday at Wrigley Field against Cubs ace Kerry Wood (2:20 p.m., WGN).
"The family doesn't get together too often on the road, so this is nice," said Clemens, who had 60 family members and friends on hand. "And they're getting to see some different ballparks."
"Super," Wood said, sounding as if he'd hoped Clemens had gotten the milestone Sunday. "So I can't wait until that day comes."
Clemens lasted six innings against Detroit, leaving with a 8-6 lead and needing just nine outs from his bullpen.
But the Tigers, baseball's worst team, came back from a 7-1 deficit by scoring five runs off Clemens and the Yankees' shaky infield in the fifth. New York made three errors in the inning.
Detroit tied it in the seventh.
"Not at all," Clemens said when asked if he was disappointed. "There are some guys disappointed. Some of the relievers are a little upset. It will be great to get it over with and move on to something else."
BLUE JAYS 11, RED SOX 8: Roy Halladay won his seventh straight start and host Toronto rallied from a six-run deficit to complete a three-game sweep.
Frank Catalanotto went 3-for-4 and matched a career high with four runs for the Blue Jays, who also swept a four-game series in New York the weekend before.
"We swept two of the best teams in the league. Why shouldn't we be considered one of the best," Catalanotto said.
ORIOLES 5, RANGERS 4: Host Baltimore improved to 28-27 and moved within striking distance in the East, but manager Mike Hargrove cautioned, "Last time I checked, we still have over 100 games to play." But owning a winning record, he said, "sure beats the alternative."
Jeff Conine singled in the tiebreaking run in the eighth after a throwing error by Hank Blalock.
MARINERS 9, TWINS 5: By the time Kenny Rogers got an out, visiting Seattle had all the runs it needed. The first seven Mariners reached base - on six singles and a big-hop triple by Greg Colbrunn - as Seattle completed a four-game sweep.
Most of the seven hits were ground balls or bloopers, including Colbrunn's triple that bounced off the turf and over rightfielder Dustan Mohr's head.
INDIANS 5, WHITE SOX 4 (10): Rookie outfielder Jody Gerut blooped a bases-loaded, pinch-hit single off the glove of shortstop Jose Valentin with two outs in the 10th for host Cleveland.
"I was a White Sox fan as a kid, I just loved them," Gerut said. "Half my friends will hate me and the other half will love me. Cubs fans will say, "Way to go.' "
ATHLETICS 6, ROYALS 4: Ramon Hernandez and Terrence Long had run-scoring singles in the eighth for visiting Oakland.
