1996 Game Recap: 9,000th Home Run in Athletics' History
Athletics 6, Red Sox 2

OAKLAND, Calif. (May 29, 1996 - 04:01 EST) -- John Wasdin put aside his awe of Roger Clemens just long enough to beat him.

Wasdin won his first start of the season and Mark McGwire and Geronimo Berroa each homered as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Boston Red Sox 6-2 Tuesday night.

Wasdin (1-0), making just his third career start and first since being recalled from Triple-A Edmonton on May 22, outdueled Clemens (3-5), who lost for the first time in six starts.

"He was one of the guys I grew up watching, a real power pitcher blowing people away with strikeouts," Wasdin said. "I held him in awe but I can't let that affect me. I can't take that out there with me because if you do you're going to get rocked.

"You just have to trust your ability. I'm sure a lot of people were surprised and I'm just thrilled, ecstatic," he said. "But I'll just take this for what it is, my first win of the year and hopefully, it'll carry over to my next start."

Wasdin, who made his season debut in a relief appearance at Baltimore last Friday, allowed two runs in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out four and walked none in helping the A's beat the Red Sox for the second time in six tries this season. Boston had outscored the A's 48-18 in the five previous games.

"I used all my pitches," Wasdin said. "I moved the ball up and down and in and out. (Catcher Terry Steinbach) called a great game and I just followed his lead."

Brent Gates went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs for Oakland.

Boston tied it at 2-2 in the fourth. Reggie Jefferson led off with a double, and one out later Bill Selby homered, driving Wasdin's first offering over the center-field wall.

But Oakland sent nine batters to the plate in a four-run fourth to regain command.

Berroa began the outburst when he connected for his team-leading 12th homer. After Phil Plantier drew a two-out walk, Mike Bordick, Jose Herrera, Ernie Young and Gates singled in succession to drive in the inning's last three runs and wear down Clemens, who was replaced by Jamie Moyer in the fifth.

"We felt pretty good coming in with Clemens going for us and our good game (Monday against Oakland)," Selby said. "That one inning kind of hurt us. Herrera really battled and gave them a big lift."

Clemens, who battled the flu this week and wrenched his knee in the second inning, threw 40 of his 95 pitches in the fourth, including 12 during Herrera's at-bat. Herrera fouled off six pitches before getting the base hit.

"I didn't have any problem with the flu," he said. "I felt strong. I felt too good to let a big inning like that happen. It was pivotal with Herrera. That was a good at-bat for him.

"The results were obviously poor. That was the worst I've been all year. I wrenched my knee in the second. It's a real high mound and you drive down off of it. Seattle has one just like it, but I really don't think my knee had anything to do with the game."

Clemens allowed six runs and seven hits in four innings, striking out eight and walking two. He struck out five of the first seven batters he faced, with Gates and McGwire the only two batters to make contact in that span. Gates grounded out and McGwire connected for his 11th home run to start the second.

Oakland took a 2-0 lead in the third when Mike walked, tagged up and went to second on a foul pop behind the plate and scored on a double by Gates.

Notes: McGwire's second-inning home run was the 9,000th in Athletics' franchise history. He has homered six times in his last eight games. ... Reliever John Briscoe, designated for assignment by the A's on May 22, cleared waivers Tuesday and has until Friday to accept an assignment to Triple-A Edmonton or become a free agent. ... Tim Naehring's first-inning single extended his hitting streak to a career-high 18 games. Naehring had to leave the game in the seventh because of back spasms. ... Despite the loss, the Red Sox have won 13 of their last 17 games against the A's. Since 1993, the Sox are 30-12 against A's. ... Oakland turned three double plays against the Red Sox, increasing their AL-leading total to 64. ... Boston's Alexander Delgado, who replaced Naehring, recorded his first major league hit in the eighth, a single off reliever Buddy Groom.