This Time, Martinez Helps Beat Clemens

Edgar Martinez, for once, was a big hit against Roger Clemens.

Martinez homered, doubled twice and drove in three runs and the Mariners beat Clemens and the Yankees, 5-2, Sunday at Safeco Field in a matchup of AL division leaders.

The loss ended the Yankees’ six-game winning streak.

“He is just a great hitter,” Clemens said. “He is patient and a student up there.”

Martinez got to the major leagues with Seattle in 1987, three years after Clemens got to Boston.

Martinez came into Sunday’s game with a career .220 batting average against Clemens. The designated hitter finished the day 21-for-86 (.244) with three homers vs. Clemens.

“I got lucky, I guess,” Martinez said with a grin. “He’s been very tough through the years. I mean, the guy is going to be a Hall of Famer and I don’t think many hitters do well against him.”

Yankee Manager Joe Torre said Clemens didn’t have anything to be ashamed about.

“He was fine,” Torre said. “I thought he pitched well. It is no embarrassment when Edgar gets a couple of base hits off you.”

Joel Pineiro (13-4) outpitched Clemens (10-4), who lost for the first time in three decisions since coming off the disabled list Aug. 6. He’d had tightness in his right groin.

Pineiro, in his first full season in the majors at 23, improved his record against New York to 2-0, both wins coming this year.

In 6 1/3 innings, he gave up two runs, five hits and a walk. He had five strikeouts.

Clemens was taken out after seven innings and 125 pitches. He gave up five runs and nine hits and walked three. He struck out nine.

Minnesota 6, Boston 2--Rick Reed (11-6) pitched seven strong innings and Doug Mientkiewicz homered at Minneapolis to lead the Twins, who won for only the fourth time in 11 games.

Minnesota extended its lead over the Chicago White Sox to 14 games in the AL Central. The Red Sox fell three games behind the Angels in the wild-card race.

Texas 10, Toronto 7--Alex Rodriguez tied a major league record with his fifth home run in two games and the Rangers completed a three-game sweep at Arlington, Texas.

Rodriguez homered twice to pass Sammy Sosa for the major league lead with 44. Rodriguez homered three times Saturday night and once Friday.

With six home runs over three games, Rodriguez matched the AL record set by Tony Lazzeri of the New York Yankees (1936), Gus Zernial of the Philadelphia Athletics (1951) and Manny Ramirez of the Cleveland Indians (1998).

Detroit 7, Baltimore 4--The Tigers overcame three homers by the Orioles to win two of three and improve to 19-46 on the road this season.

Robert Fick, who had been hitless in 12 at-bats, had three hits and two RBIs. Detroit had 18 hits.

Tampa Bay 8, Kansas City 6--Tanyon Sturtze ended his nine-game winless streak and Aubrey Huff homered and drove in three runs for the Devil Rays at St. Petersburg, Fla. Sturtze (2-13) gave up four runs and five hits over seven innings for his first win since June 26.