HATCHER STEALS SHOW IN RED SOX WIN OVER JAYS

Roger Clemens went the distance, but Billy Hatcher stole the show.

Hatcher, who went 3 for 4 and added two RBI, stole home to score one of his two runs Monday night, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 7-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.Hatcher played a role in Boston's two third-inning runs, giving the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. John Valentin led off with a single and one out later Hatcher drove him in with a double. Hatcher went to third on Phil Plantier's groundout.

"The first time I got to third base (in the first) I saw he (Juan Guzman) wasn't looking at me," Hatcher said. "So, the next time I got there (in the third) I asked Rooster (third base coach Rick Burleson) if I should try it (stealing home). He said `If you want to, go ahead.' So on the second pitch I noticed he wasn't looking and he was real slow in his delivery to home, so I took off. It was a good thing Bruno (Tom Brunansky the batter) didn't swing."

Hatcher beat Guzman's throw home for the first steal of home by a Red Sox player since Marty Barrett did it July 16, 1988 in Baltimore. Team officials said they could not remember a Red Sox player stealing home at Fenway Park in more than 20 years.

"I didn't send any signal down to third on Hatcher's steal because we don't have one for anything like that. He did it on his own," Boston manager Butch Hobson said.

Clemens, 12-7, gave up one earned run and six hits, walked one and struck out five in his eighth complete game of the season. It was his third win in four decisions since the All-Star break.

Clemens, 7-2 with a 2.30 ERA in 12 starts at Fenway, was just what the Red Sox needed after they had dropped three of four to Baltimore over the weekend. Clemens is 10-4 after a Sox loss.

In the fourth, Devon White hit the first pitch Clemens threw him over the bullpen fence in left field. It was White's 11th home run of the year and cut the Red Sox' lead to 2-1.

Jody Reed stretched Boston's lead to 3-1 in the fourth with hit a solo home run, his third homer of the year.

Guzman, 12-3, gave the game away in the fifth, issuing two bases-loaded walks to help the Red Sox take a 6-1 lead in the inning. After Wade Boggs walked, Hatcher and Phil Plantier singled to load the bases, Guzman walked Tom Brunansky to force in one run and Mo Vaughn to push in another. Guzman was pulled, but reliever Doug Linton, in his first major league appearance, walked Jody Reed, giving Boston a five-run lead.

Athletics 4, Rangers 1

At Arlington, Texas, Mark McGwire slugged his major league-leading 33rd homer and scored three times to help the Athletics win their eighth in their last 10. Mike Bordick knocked in two runs for Oakland, which moved within a half-game of AL West front runner Minnesota.