Roger Clemens makes an early exit after Chicago’s batters open up on New York.
By The Associated Press

NEW YORK – Frank Thomas hit a huge grand slam against Roger Clemens, propelling the Chicago White Sox to a big win.

Thomas homered high off the foul pole near the left-field upper deck and Magglio Ordonez followed with another long home run off the front of the center-field bleachers as the White Sox beat up the New York Yankees 13-2 Tuesday night in a matchup of division leaders.

Esteban Loaiza (17-6) improved to 6-1 since the All-Star break, allowing one hit in seven innings and leaving with an 11-0 lead. He tied Toronto’s Roy Halladay for the AL lead in wins.

Paul Konerko and Joe Crede also homered off Clemens (12-8), who allowed four home runs in a game for only the second time in his major league career.

Konerko, who had three hits and four RBIs, homered again in the eighth off Gabe White, making his Yankees’ debut. Magglio Ordonez also homered twice for Chicago, which hit six home runs in a game for the second time this season.

After his mother, Bess, threw out the ceremonial first pitch, Clemens made his 600th career start and had one of his worst outings, tying his high by allowing nine runs.

In his first game in New York since the Mets traded him on July 1, White Sox second baseman Roberto Alomar was booed repeatedly. He went 0-for-2 with a walk.

Chicago, which has won seven of eight, began the night with a one-game lead in the AL Central, while New York started five games up in the AL East.

Brewers 7, Reds 1

CINCINNATI – Doug Davis pitched a four-hitter and the Milwaukee Brewers won their eighth straight game, defeating the Cincinnati Reds 7-1 Tuesday night.

Geoff Jenkins had a career high-tying four hits, including a two-run homer, as the Brewers extended their longest winning streak since a nine-game string in 1997. With a 56-75 record, Milwaukee matched its win total from last season.

Wes Helms also hit a two-run homer as the Brewers sent the Reds to their third straight loss.

Royals 9, Rangers 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Mike Sweeney and Aaron Guiel each homered and drove in four runs, leading Brian Anderson and the Kansas City Royals over the Texas Rangers 9-2 Tuesday night.

Anderson, acquired in a trade with Cleveland on Monday, turned in a solid start as the Royals stayed one game back of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central. Kansas City has won seven straight against Texas since June 2, 2002.

Tigers 5, Indians 4

CLEVELAND – Craig Monroe and Dmitri Young hit home runs Tuesday night as the Detroit Tigers won their second straight game for the first time in six weeks with 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Nate Cornejo (6-13) snapped his five-game losing streak and gave the Tigers their first winning streak since they won three straight wrapped around the All-Star break.

The Tigers, who already have 97 losses and are threatening to break the 1962 New York Mets’ modern record of 120 in a season, snapped an 11-game skid Sunday. Cleveland lost for just the seventh time in 20 games since August 6 as Cornejo held the Indians to four runs and nine hits over 7 1-3 innings.

Pirates 4, Marlins 3

PITTSBURGH – Jason Kendall, upset at not being traded along with Brian Giles to San Diego earlier in the day, hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Florida Marlins 4-3 Tuesday night.

The Marlins’ sixth loss in seven games dropped them out of a tie with the Phillies in the NL wild-card race. Eight teams began the night within three games of the lead.

Kendall singled ahead of Craig Wilson’s run-scoring single in the first and doubled in the fifth, then hit his sixth homer after Marlins starter Mark Redman hit Tike Redman with a pitch in the seventh.

Expos 14, Phillies 10

MONTREAL – Wil Cordero hit a pair of two-run doubles as the Montreal Expos rallied from an eight-run deficit and beat the Philadelphia Phillies 14-10 Tuesday night.

Montreal fell behind 8-0 after five innings, and were trailing 10-4 before scoring seven runs in the seventh, highlighted by Cordero and Jose Vidro’s two-run doubles.

The Expos won their third straight and moved within two games of Philadelphia for the NL wild card.

Mets 6, Braves 5

ATLANTA – Mike Piazza hit a three-run homer in his first game against Atlanta this year and Timo Perez added a two-run double as the New York Mets beat the Braves 6-5 Tuesday night.

Piazza missed nearly three months with a strained right groin, including the previous 13 games between the teams. He connected in the first off Shane Reynolds (10-7) for a 3-0 lead and the Mets held on from there. Since returning from the disabled list Aug. 13, Piazza’s hitting .273 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 10 games.

Astros 18, Dodgers 4

HOUSTON – Jeff Kent homered and drove in five runs and Jeff Bagwell also homered as the Houston Astros routed the Los Angeles Dodgers 18-4 Tuesday night.

The Astros came within one run of matching the highest-scoring game in franchise history, last done in 1999. Houston’s previous top run total this season was 13 on May 7 against Pittsburgh.

Kent, who went 3-for-4, and pinch-hitter Jason Lane each delivered three-run doubles.

The Dodgers took a 3-0 lead in the first inning against Ron Villone (6-2). After that, the Astros broke loose against Odalis Perez (10-10) and the Los Angeles bullpen.

Perez had his four-game winning streak stopped, allowing 10 runs and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings.

Houston led 4-3 before scoring six times in the fifth inning, highlighted by Kent’s big double.

Lance Berkman drove in Kent with a single and, after a walk to Brad Ausmus, Adam Everett and Villone hit RBI singles that finished Perez.

The Astros added five runs in the sixth, keyed by Lane’s double.

Houston scored three in the seventh when Ausmus hit a two-run double and came home on a throwing error by second baseman Alex Cora.

David Ross hit his seventh home run of the season in the seventh for the Dodgers.

Fred McGriff’s 11th homer of the season and 489th of his career capped the Dodgers’ first.

Houston cut its deficit to 3-2 in the first on a two-run homer by Kent. Ausmus tied it with an RBI double in the second and Bagwell hit his 29th homer in the third.

Notes: Bagwell needs three RBI to become the 58th player in major league history to drive in 1,400 or more runs. Bagwell needs one more homer to become the 13th player ever to hit 30 home runs in at least eight consecutive seasons … Adrian Beltre has driven in at least one run in 10 of his last 20 starts for a total of 22 RBIs. … Kent hit his 19th home run, three shy of the team record for a second baseman set by Craig Biggio in 1995 and 1997.

AP-ES-08-26-03 2312EDT