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Aubrey Huff hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning Wednesday night, and the Orioles stopped Clemens' streak of consecutive starts with a strikeout at 200, beating the Yankees 4-0 at Camden Yards.
The 44-year-old Clemens (1-3) was trying to become the eighth pitcher with 350 career wins. He threw five shutout innings before Ramon Hernandez drove in the game's first run, and Huff followed with his first homer since May 9 to send the Yankees to their fourth straight loss.
"It's my fault. I've been in hundreds of those types of games," Clemens said. "You just want to minimize what you're doing out there and try to keep momentum. The way the game's breaking down, you want to stay away from the big inning."
The right-hander's run of successive starts with at least one strikeout was the third-longest streak by an active major leaguer, behind Pedro Martinez (293) and Javier Vazquez (237).
"There was never really a situation where he needed a strikeout," Torre said. "Roger was thinking more about contact than striking people out, though it was an oddity."
In other AL games, it was Kansas City 1, Los Angeles 0; Chicago 5, Tampa Bay 3; Oakland 13, Cleveland 7; Toronto 5, Minnesota 4, and Seattle 2, Boston 1 in 11 innings.
Clemens allowed four runs, seven hits and three walks in six innings, but was outdone by Baltimore starter Erik Bedard (6-4).
The left-hander struck out eight and did not allow a runner past first base, scattering two hits and a walk over seven innings.
"What a matchup between two outstanding pitchers," Orioles interim manager Dave Trembley said. "Erik Bedard seemed to get better as he went along. For him to bring his game to the level that he did tonight, knowing who he was facing, 1-on-1 with Mr. Clemens and the New York Yankees, I think says something about what we've got with Erik Bedard."
Clemens allowed only three hits through the first five innings, but after throwing two pitches in the sixth he was visited at the mound by Yankees trainer Steve Donohue. The cause of the discomfort was Clemens struck his elbow on his knee during his follow-through.
The veteran continued on. He was not, however, effective.
"You really can't worry about the season as much as you need to worry about tomorrow," Torre said. "Tomorrow we need to come out here and start winning."
Royals 1, Angels 0
Mark Teahen singled home a run in the third inning and visiting Kansas City completed a three-game sweep.
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Jorge De La Rosa (5-9) won for the first time since May 13, giving up 10 hits in six-plus innings, and Octavio Dotel pitched the ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances.
Jered Weaver (6-4), who had won his prior five decisions, allowed four hits in seven innings, struck out six and walked one.
Mariners 2, Red Sox 1, 11 innings
Jose Lopez doubled off Joel Pineiro (1-1) in the 11th inning, driving in Ichiro Suzuki and helping host Seattle match its season-best mark of nine games over .500.
Jason Davis (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the Mariners.
Daisuke Matsuzaka allowed one run and three hits in eight innings for Boston. He walked one and struck out eight, including Jamie Burke with a runner on second to end the eighth. Matsuzaka has allowed six runs in five starts this month.
White Sox 5, Devil Rays 3
Mark Buehrle (5-4) scattered nine hits over seven innings and repeatedly worked out of jams to give visiting Chicago a chance.
The White Sox rallied against right-hander Andy Sonnanstine and the Devil Rays' bullpen with two runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth, when rookie Andy Gonzalez had an RBI single off Gary Glover (3-3) and Paul Konerko snapped a 3-3 tie with a two-run double off Shawn Camp.
Bobby Jenks worked a perfect ninth for his 20th save.
Athletics 13, Indians 7
Jack Cust had a career-high five RBIs, Shannon Stewart finished with four hits and visiting Oakland snapped a five-game losing streak.
Cust hit a three-run homer and Stewart had a two-run drive for the A's, who pounded Fausto Carmona (8-4) for eight runs in building a 9-0 lead in the second inning.
Lenny DiNardo (3-4) won for the first time in four starts, allowing two runs and five hits in five innings.
Blue Jays 5, Twins 4
At Minneapolis, Gregg Zaun hit a two-run homer and Toronto overcame four errors to win for the fifth time in six games.
After Boof Bonser (5-4) walked Frank Thomas in the sixth inning, Zaun homered over the right-field baggie for a 4-3 lead, completing Toronto's comeback from an early 3-0 deficit.
Josh Towers (3-5) gave up seven hits and three earned runs in the first three innings, but settled down to get his first win as a starter since April 15.
Jeremy Accardo pitched the final 1 1-3 innings for his 10th save in 12 chances.
[Associated Press]
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