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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) -- Roger Clemens gave the New York Yankees
confidence. Mariano Rivera gave them worries.
Clemens, on another of the dominating streaks that have marked
his career, won his ninth consecutive decision, pitching shutout
ball into the eighth inning to lead the New York Yankees over the
Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 Wednesday night.
|  | | Since his last loss June 9, Roger Clemens has lowered his ERA from 4.82 to 3.30, second in the AL to Pedro Martinez. |
Rivera, though, had a shaky eighth and a shaky ninth before
holding on.
"It doesn't bother me at all," Rivera said. "I feel strong. I
feel healthy. I am healthy. That's the bottom line. There are going
to be games like this. You just battle, and like today, come out
ahead."
While he dominated in converting 44 of 49 save chances last
year, this season batters have been able to foul off pitches to
stay alive and bloop hits over the infield.
"He's struggled a little bit as of late," Toronto manager Jim
Fregosi said, "but he's a pretty good pitcher, and he made the
pitches he had to make."
Rivera's problem Wednesday was that his shoulder was flying open
in his motion.
"He was a little frustrated after the game," Yankees manager
Joe Torre said.
Clemens (13-6) left after Jose Cruz Jr. doubled leading off the
eighth, Mickey Morandini singled Cruz home and Shannon Stewart
singled.
Jeff Nelson struck out Alex Gonzalez and in came Rivera, who
loaded the bases on Dave Martinez's bloop single. He then retired
Carlos Delgado on a foul popup and Brad Fullmer on a soft liner to
second, both on fastballs.
Rivera allowed Tony Batista's leadoff double off the glove of
third baseman Scott Brosius in the ninth, then struck out Darrin
Fletcher and Cruz before walking Morandini and allowing an RBI
single to Stewart.
Gonzalez hit a game-ending flyout with runners on first and
third.
"My mechanics weren't the right ones at the right time," said
Rivera, who got his 34th save in 39 chances.
Clemens, given a standing ovation when he came out of the game,
has allowed just two earned runs in his last 30 innings, didn't
allow a runner past first until the seventh and lowered his ERA to
3.30, second in the AL behind Boston's Pedro Martinez (1.74).
Clemens, 9-0 in 16 starts since a June 9 loss to the New York
Mets, gave up one run and eight hits in seven-plus innings with
five strikeouts and one walk.
"I think he's got the zone locked in," Torre said. "He's able
to bite off any part of the plate that he wants to, right now."
He was especially careful pitching against the Blue Jays, the
team he won Cy Young Awards with in 1997 and '98, and thought he
was in sync with catcher Jorge Posada, able to decide on sequences
of four, five pitches at a time.
"Maybe it's something to do with the full moon," Clemens said.
"It's really fun for me when a guy is there for you the whole
time."
New York won for the 11th time in 14 games and opened a
season-high nine-game lead in the AL East over second-place Boston,
lowering its magic number to 11 for its sixth straight postseason
appearance.
Tino Martinez hit a two-run homer in the first off Esteban
Loaiza (9-11), his sixth hit and fourth home run off the pitcher in
11 career at-bats.
"I was just trying to get ahead in the count," said Loaiza,
who allowed all three runs and seven hits in seven innings.
"Sometimes, it results in a popup, but this wasn't a popup."
Chuck Knoblauch had his first three-hit game since July 4
against Baltimore, doubling in the third, advancing when Stewart
slipped as he caught Derek Jeter's fly to left and scoring on Paul
O'Neill's single.
"He's starting to get in game shape," Torre said. "I think he
can be a big plus for us."
Game notes
Yankees OF Bernie Williams, who has missed seven of eight
games after straining his right rib cage, could be back in the
lineup Thursday or Friday. Williams, bothered now by a slight calf
strain, turned 32, as did Yankees pitcher Denny Neagle. ... Jeter
has reached base in 38 straight games. ... Delgado is homerless in
14 games, leaving him stalled at 39. ... With 260 wins, Clemens
tied Ted Lyons for 34th on the career list. ... In a neat matchup
Thursday night at Yankee Stadium, David Wells _ traded to Toronto
for Clemens _ tries to become the majors' first 20-game winner when
he faces New York's Andy Pettitte, going for his 19th victory.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
NY Yankees Clubhouse
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