CHICAGO, 9 June 2003 — Roger Clemens failed for the third time to win his 300th game, Eric Karros hitting a three-run homer in the seventh inning to spark the Chicago Cubs to a 5-2 victory over the New York Yankees Saturday.
Clemens (6-4) had a two-hitter and a 1-0 lead going to the bottom of the seventh inning. But, after striking out Corey Patterson, he allowed a single to Sammy Sosa and then walked Moises Alou.
Yankees manager Joe Torre then replaced the 40-year-old pitcher with Juan Acevedo, who promptly allowed the blast by Karros, ending Clemens’s attempt at No. 300 for another day.
Clemens, bidding to become baseball’s 21st 300-game winner and first since Nolan Ryan in 1990, is expected to pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium Friday.
He won his 299th game May 21 against Boston but has now failed in his last three starts to get a win. He did have five strikeouts Saturday, giving him 3,996 in his career.
Alex Gonzalez had an RBI double in the eighth and Sosa added a run-scoring single later in the inning to account for Chicago’s runs.
Kerry Wood (5-4) went 7 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with 11 strikeouts and three walks. Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada homered for the Yankees.
Hee Seop Choi of the Cubs was carried off the field on a stretcher after he collided with Wood and banged his head on the ground chasing a ball in the fourth inning. He was taken to hospital for tests.
Giants 7 Tigers 5
In San Francisco, Jason Schmidt pitched seven strong innings as the Giants belted four homers to beat the Detroit Tigers 7-5.
Barry Bonds, with the 628th of his career, Andres Galarraga, Jose Cruz Jr. and Marquis Grissom all homered for the Giants.
Orioles 8 Cardinals 1
In St. Louis, Sidney Ponson tossed a complete game seven-hitter and Deivi Cruz had two homers to lead the Baltimore Orioles past the Cardinals 8-1. Ponson (8-3) struck out eight and walked two in pitching his second complete game in three starts.
Diamondbacks 5 Indians 3
In Phoenix, Shea Hillenbrand had two hits and drove in two runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Cleveland Indians 5-3. Alex Cintron had three hits and drove in a run for the Tribe. Stephen Randolph (1-0) tossed two shutout innings for the win while Jose Valverde struck out the side in the ninth for his second save of the season.
Angels 9 Marlins 2
In Miami, Aaron Sele pitched seven strong innings to steer the Anaheim Angels past the Florida Marlins 9-2. Garret Anderson homered and had three RBI for the Angels. Scott Spiezio had two hits and drove in two runs.
Tommy Phelps (2-1) allowed five runs on six hits in five innings.
Royals 13 Rockies 11
In Denver, Mike Sweeney hit a grand slam as the Kansas City Royals hung on for a 13-11 win over the Colorado Rockies despite nearly blowing an 11-run lead in the first game of a doubleheader.
Angel Berroa homered and had three hits for the Royals. Chris George (6-4) went seven innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits.
In the nightcap, Carlos Beltran homered and Aaron Guiel had four hits and drove in two runs to give the Royals a 9-5 victory. Jason Gilfillan (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win. MacDougal finished up for his 15th save of the season. Todd Jones (1-3) allowed five runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings. Helton had three hits and drove in three runs.
Astros 5 Devil Rays 4
In Houston, Jeff Kent and Richard Hildago homered in the eighth inning as the Astros edged the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 5-4.
Lance Berkman also homered for Houston. Kirk Saarloos (2-0) pitched a scoreless eighth and Billy Wagner finished up for his 18th save of the season.
Expos 5 Rangers 4
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Brad Wilkerson hit two homers to give the Montreal Expos a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers. Jose Vidro also homered for Montreal. Claudio Vargas (3-2) gave up four unearned runs in the second but pitched five innings for the win while Luis Ayala tossed a scoreless ninth for his first career save.
Red Sox 11 Brewers 10
In Milwaukee, Trot Nixon and Jason Varitek homered in the ninth inning to rally the Boston Red Sox past the Brewers 11-10.
Kevin Millar hit a grand slam for the Sox, who came back from a six-run deficit. Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and Bill Mueller also had home runs.
Reds 9 Blue Jays 8
In Cincinnati, Sean Casey capped a four-run ninth inning with the game-winning RBI single as the Reds rallied to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-8. Jason LaRue hit a three-run homer in the ninth for the Reds. Adam Dunn and Russell Branyan also homered while Chris Reitsma (5-2) pitched two shutout innings for the win.
White Sox 4 Dodgers 1
In Los Angeles, Bartolo Colon tossed a complete game four-hitter to lead the Chicago White Sox past the Dodgers 4-1. Colon (6-5) allowed one run and struck out five with no walks. Frank Thomas and Joe Crede both homered and had three hits.
