AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : He Needs a Little Help, but Stewart Outpitches Clemens and Wins, 1-0

Roger Clemens pitched another strong game, but it wasn’t quite good enough to beat Dave Stewart, who almost never loses in April.

The matchup between two of baseball’s finest pitchers lived up to its billing Sunday at Boston, where Stewart’s Oakland Athletics edged Clemens’ Red Sox, 1-0.

They both won their first four starts, but when Jose Canseco singled in a run in the first inning, it was enough to give Stewart his 19th consecutive victory in the first month of the season.

Manager Tony La Russa, who didn’t use Dennis Eckersley to protect a two-run lead Friday night and lost, 7-6, didn’t make that mistake this time.

Stewart, who for the fourth consecutive year became the first pitcher to win five games, was fortunate to escape in the sixth and seventh, so with two out in the eighth, Eckersley came in. He retired the last four batters for his seventh save. In 7 2/3 innings, Stewart gave up six hits.

Clemens, except for a leadoff walk to Rickey Henderson, an infield out and Canseco’s first hit in 13 at-bats, pitched very well. He gave up only three other hits in seven innings.

The Red Sox didn’t have much luck. With two out in the sixth inning, Mike Greenwell singled. Then Dwight Evans hit a line drive into the gap in left-center that would have easily scored Greenwell, but the ball bounced over the fence into the Boston bullpen, so it was a ground-rule double. Greenwell went back to third, and Bill Buckner popped out.

The Red Sox had two on and two out in the seventh when Wade Boggs hit a line drive toward left, but third baseman Carney Lansford made a leaping catch to save Stewart.

“When you pitch against Stew, you know it’s going to come down to a break or two, and that’s the game,” Clemens said.

After ending Oakland’s six-game losing streak at Fenway Park, Stewart returned the compliment.

“When you go up against Roger you just have to set your mind on pitching one of the better games of your life,” he said. “Games like this are nerve-wracking because you make a mistake and you lose.”

Stewart is now 4-1 against Clemens, his only loss coming when he pitched for Texas. Clemens is 2-7 against the Athletics, the only team he has a losing record against.

“For three hours, I was on the edge of my seat or on my tippytoes,” La Russa said. “They’re both so similar, they’re such competitors. Both will compete as far as they can. They’re unbelievable.”

In cold, windy weather, Clemens made 115 pitches, Stewart 126.

Henderson stole second base in the fifth, his 11th without being caught. But when he tried to steal third, catcher Rich Gedman threw him out.

Milwaukee 6, Detroit 1--Paul Molitor and Glenn Braggs hit home runs at Detroit and the leaders of the East were ready to do battle in the seventh after an inside pitch by Tiger reliever Edwin Nunez cleared both benches.

There were no punches thrown and nobody was ejected. It was starter Dan Petry, not Nunez, who gave up the homers that increased the Brewers’ lead to 1 1/2 games over Boston.

The Brewers also were in a bench-clearing incidents with Kansas City and Texas because of pitches thrown too close to their hitters.

“The strange thing about it,” Manager Tom Trebelhorn of the Brewers said, “is that Kansas City and Detroit are good people. I’m surprised it went that far.

Chris Bosio (3-0) gave up five hits in 6 1/3 innings and then the Brewers’ strong bullpen took over.

Kansas City 5, Texas 2--Bo is back and the Royals’ losing streak is over.

Bo Jackson, who missed the last four defeats because of a family illness, drove in a run at Kansas City, scored twice and literally ran the Royals out of their six-game losing streak.

Jackson ran down a line drive by the Rangers’ Scott Coolbaugh and bothered the Rangers with his aggressive baserunning.

“I think the team was fired up this afternoon,” Jackson said. “We got some runs early and that helped our confidence. I’m glad it gives my teammates a lift when I run. I like to do it.”

Jeff Montgomery won it in relief and Mark Davis struck out two of the last three batters to get his fourth save.

Cleveland 6, Minnesota 4--The Indians would be a pennant threat if they didn’t have to go on the road. At home they remain unbeaten.

Rookie third baseman Carlos Baerga made up for some sloppy fielding by tripling to drive in a run, then scored on a sacrifice fly to give Greg Swindell the support he needed to win the Indians’ sixth in a row at home.

The Indians, the only unbeaten team at home in the majors, are 3-8 on the road.

Swindell (2-2) lasted 5 2/3 innings, yielding seven hits and three earned runs. Doug Jones pitched two scoreless innings to get his sixth save in his sixth opportunity.

Chicago 10, Toronto 3--Every time the Blue Jays seem ready to challenge for the lead in the East, they have a weekend such as this one in Chicago.

The White Sox completed a sweep of the three-game series, outscoring the Blue Jays, 21-8.

Sammy Sosa, who hit his first home run to help beat Toronto Saturday, hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs.

Baltimore 5, Seattle 4--Rene Gonzales hit a home run with one out in the ninth inning at Baltimore and the Orioles ended the Mariners’ four-game winning streak.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his fifth homer for the Mariners, who took a 4-1 lead in the seventh, but couldn’t hold it.