Ray Stubblebine / Reuters

New York Yankees Johnny Damon, right, celebrates with teammate Robinson Cano after hitting a three run home run against the Cleveland Indians.  The Yankees beat the Indians 8-4 to stay alive in their best-of-five ALDS.

“They came out with a different approach in the fifth inning and I didn’t mix it up like I was supposed to,” Westbrook said.

In his 24th and maybe final season, the 45-year-old Clemens was limited by an injured hamstring and a balky elbow to one start in the past month. He fell behind nine of 13 batters, reinjuring the hamstring when Kenny Lofton made a bunt attempt in the second. By the time Torre went to the mound to remove him with no outs in the third, Cleveland had taken a 1-0 lead on Garko’s RBI single in the first and Nixon’s home run in the second, which appeared to glance off the top of the right-field wall.

Rodriguez came over to the mound and tapped the misfiring Rocket on his chest with his glove. Clemens, glove dangling from right hand, slowly walked to the dugout, down the steps and up the corridor to the clubhouse. It took him 59 pitches to get just seven outs.

“It got to a point where I can’t put these guys in a hole,” Clemens said. “I’ve been trying everything I possibly could to get it right.”

Hughes entered in just the third relief appearance of his pro career, his second this week. He gave up an opposite-field RBI to right by Peralta, striking out four and allowing two hits in 3 2-3 innings. That and Damon’s homer were the difference.

“I know the Red Sox are off waiting for the next team,” Damon said. “And, hopefully, that team is us.”

Notes: Jeter was 0-for-4 and is 1-for-12 (.083) in the series. ... Posada was 1-for-3 with a walk and is 1-for-10. ... Westbrook allowed six runs and nine hits in five-plus innings. ... Torre might consider replacing Clemens — who then would be off the roster until the World Series.

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