AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Blue Jays Catch Up to Clemens

The Toronto Blue Jays finally found a formula to beat Roger Clemens--the home run ball and Jack Morris.

Morris, signed as a free agent during the off-season, pitched a four-hitter against the Boston Red Sox, and the Blue Jays defeated Clemens for the first time in 10 decisions, 4-0, Thursday night at Toronto.

“It just shows you there is a human element in baseball,” Morris said. “Clemens made a couple of mistakes that hurt him.

“There’s no denying he’s one of the great pitchers in the game today--probably the best. But he’s been beaten before and he’ll be beaten again.”

Joe Carter, Dave Winfield and Pat Borders homered to account for all the runs against Clemens (9-4). Morris (7-3) pitched his first shutout since Game 7 of the World Series last October, when he was with the Minnesota Twins.

“I liked the way I was throwing the ball,” Clemens said. “But those first two runs (on Carter’s two-run homer in the third inning) really hurt. They were magnified in this situation because I was trying to throw zeros.

“I’ve faced Morris many times and if you don’t get him early, like any top-notch starter, he’ll settle in and get his momentum going.”

Clemens won nine consecutive decisions against the Blue Jays dating to June 4, 1988, including a 1-0 victory in April in which he pitched seven innings and gave up three hits while striking out 11.

Baltimore 7, Detroit 5--Joe Orsulak’s first homer of the season, a three-run blast, capped a four-run first inning and the Orioles held off the Tigers at Detroit for their fourth victory in five games.

Detroit’s Rob Deer hit a 480-foot homer onto the left-field roof and Travis Fryman also homered.

The Orioles pounded Bill Gullickson (7-4) for six runs and seven hits in seven innings.

Alan Mills (3-1) won with three perfect innings of relief after Ben McDonald lasted only 4 2/3 innings. Gregg Olson pitched 1 1/3 innings for his 17th save.