Clemens, Yanks Get Even!

Roger Clemens showed the Cleveland Indians the one thing they're missing.

Clemens won his 20th straight decision four short of the major league record holding baseball's best lineup in check and leading the New York Yankees over Cleveland 11-5 Tuesday night.

"That streak is hard to believe," manager Joe Torre said. "He had to have a little luck sometimes with the no-decisions. But mostly, it's all him. That's why he's headed to the Hall of Fame when he hangs it up."

The winning streak is the longest ever in the AL, and tied with Rube Marquard for the third best in major league history. Carl Hubbell set the overall record in 1936-37 and Roy Face won 22 straight in 1958-59.

"The streak is neat," Clemens said. "I want to win every time I go out. I feel that's my responsibility as the No. 1 guy."

While Clemens wasn't dominating Tuesday night, he was effective enough, giving up three runs in 6 2-3 innings. He allowed seven hits to an Indians team that is averaging 6.7 runs per game.

"That's a great hitting club," Clemens said. "They keep coming after you. Eventually you have to shut them down."

After allowing three runs in the first four innings, Clemens did. He left with New York leading 6-3 and two runners on in the seventh.

Jason Grimsley walked Roberto Alomar, loading the bases for Manny Ramirez, the majors' RBI leader. Ramirez lined a ball to right-center that Bernie Williams ran down for the third out.

"It doesn't matter who's up there," Grimsley said. "I just have to make my pitch."

Ramirez, accused by the Yankees on Monday of corking his bat, went 0-for-5 with his 64th RBI.

Derek Jeter went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and has reached base by hit or walk in all 50 games for the Yankees this season. He walked and scored in the first inning and hit a two-run double in the fourth off Dave Burba (5-2) to put New York up 5-3.

"Jeter's on the sun and we'r on the earth," Clemens said. "He's hotter than a pistol."

"If I'm on the sun, then he's somewhere else," Jeter responded. "Because that man hasn't lost in more than a year."

Jeter added an RBI single in the sixth and was hit by a pitch from Steve Reed in the eighth inning. Jeter had words with Reed on his way to first, and both teams were warned by plate umpire Larry Young.

Cleveland's Kenny Lofton was hit in the third inning and Wilfredo Cordero was hit in the eighth.

"I'm not going to let guys hitting .370 dive all the way over the batter's box to hit my slider," Reed said. "If he wants to chirp that way down the line he can do that."

Paul O'Neill followed with a two-run homer and Williams hit a solo shot to make it 11-5.

The Indians have the best record and best offense in the majors and the second best bullpen in the AL. Clemens represents the one thing they haven't got: a true staff ace.

The lack of a No. 1 starter won't keep Cleveland from running away in the AL Central. But it could cost them in the postseason, where they have lost eight straight Game 1s in part because of the lack of an ace.

That's why the Indians inquired about Clemens when Toronto put him on the trading block this offseason. And that's why they still would like to add a top starter.

Cleveland showed its respect for Clemens by sacrifice bunting twice in the early innings. With runners on first and second and no outs in the first, Alomar (.323 average) bunted. Ramirez followed with an RBI groundout.

"Clemens pitched a great game today," Alomar said. "I think he was throwing the ball pretty well and he always hits his spots. You have to get to him early."

In the third, Omar Vizquel (.324 average) bunted with Lofton on first and nobody out. Alomar followed with a single to tie it at 2.

Chuck Knoblauch hit a solo homer in the third to put New York up 3-2, but Cleveland tied it on Cordero's fifth homer.

Travis Fryman hit a two-run homer in the eighth for Cleveland.

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