Sprague sparks Blue Jays
Canseco belts 20th homer
Posted: Monday June 15, 1998 01:37 AM
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The Blue Jays honored Joe Carter for his World Series heroics in 1993. However, Carter finished the game 0-for-5. (AP) |
TORONTO (AP) -- Ed Sprague bailed
out Roger
Clemens.
Sprague hit a three-run homer and Clemens won his seventh game despite
pitching with a stained groin as the Toronto Blue Jays
beat the Baltimore
Orioles 7-4 on Sunday night.
"I was real appreciative that the guys picked me up," said Clemens (7-6),
who allowed four runs on six hits and five walks in 5 1/3 innings. "It was
a situation where I tried to go as long as I could. I didn't want to
jeopardize the game because the guys were swinging the bats well."
Clemens took himself out of a game April 7 because of a strained right
groin, and also missed his next start.
"I don't expect it to be a problem for my next start," he said. "It's
definitely a concern. I have to continue to monitor that area.
Randy Myers
pitched the ninth for his 18th save, and second straight against his former
team.
Sprague homered off Pete Smith (0-1)
in the fifth to give the Blue Jays a 6-4 lead. Smith, acquired from San
Diego on Tuesday for minor league pitcher Eric Estes, allowed six runs on
10 hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings.
"At least he did a lot better than a lot of other guys we've had out
there," Orioles manager Ray Miller said.
Toronto scored four runs in the fifth. Jose Canseco
and Carlos
Delgado drew consecutive walks, Mike Stanley
flied out to move Canseco to third, Darrin
Fletcher singled in a run, and Sprague followed with his sixth homer.
"I hit it good and the bat just snapped in half," Sprague said. "Roger
wasn't at the top of his game, but he still made the pitches when he had
to. That's why he's won four Cy Young awards."
Stanley added an RBI single in the sixth.
The Orioles took a 2-0 lead in the second on Cal Ripken's RBI
single and Jeff
Reboulet's sacrifice. Canseco made it 2-1 in the third with his 20th
home run, a 421-foot shot to center field.
After Clemens struck out Reboulet and Jesus Tavarez
with the bases loaded in the fourth, Toronto's Craig Grebeck
tied it in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double. B.J. Surhoff
had a two-run single in the fifth to give Baltimore a 4-2 lead.
Notes: Former Toronto star Joe Carter was
honored before the game. The Orioles outfielder was given a framed jersey
and a painting depicting his series-ending homer the 1993 World Series. ...
Clemens was 11-2 last year after 14 starts. ... Canseco stole his 19th base
in the sixth. ... Baltimore pitcher Doug Drabek left
Saturday's game in the third inning because of a strained muscle on the
right side of his chest. He is expected to miss his next turn in the
rotation. ... Orioles outfielder Brady
Anderson missed his second straight start because of a strained right
thigh muscle.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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