Clemens Has One for Book: 20 Strikeouts

BOSTON —  Send a letter to Roger Clemens’ doctor. The operation on the Boston Red Sox right-hander was a success.

Clemens, who underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right shoulder last Aug. 30, set a major league record for a nine-inning game by striking out 20 batters as the Red Sox downed the Seattle Mariners 3-1 Tuesday night.

“All of the injury is behind me. I’m tired of hearing about that. I’m going to come back from anything. You have no control over an injury. All I know is what the record book says,” Clemens said.

The record book now says that Clemens broke the record previously shared by Nolan Ryan in 1974 with the California Angels, Tom Seaver in 1970 with the New York Mets and Steve Carlton in 1969 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Clemens also fanned eight consecutive batters from the fourth into the sixth innings to break a Red Sox record and tie the American League mark. Ryan had done it twice previously with California and Ron Davis did with the New York Yankees.

The 20 strikeouts also were the most ever in Fenway Park by one pitcher. Jack Harshman of the Chicago White Sox set the previous high of 16 on July 25, 1954.

“I watched Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver when I was growing up,” Clemens said. ‘They were unbelievable, spectacular.”

Those were the words being used to refer to Clemens in both lockerrooms after the game.

“I have to say that was the most awsome piece of pitching I’ve ever seen,” Red Sox Manager John McNamara said. “I saw Catfish Hunter pitch a perfect game. I’ve seen Mike Witt pitch a perfect game. But this rates right at the top.”

Catcher Rich Gedman said Clemens was “overpowering the whole game.”

Sox General Manager Lou Gorman said Clemens’ fastball was clocked at 97 m.p.h. late in the game.

“He was using mainly fastballs. There was not much difference in his fastball from other games, just the location,” Gedman said. “Guys were stretching for the ball, reaching for it. But as far as I’m concerned, those were unhittable.”

Clemens gave up just three hits and no walks, throwing 138 pitches, 97 of them for strikes.

One of the hits briefly silenced the Fenway Park crowd of 13,414.

With a count of one ball and two strikes with two out in the seventh inning, Gorman Thomas hit a home run to dead centerfield, breaking up what had been a scoreless pitching duel between Clemens, 4-0, and Mike Moore, 1-2.

“It was a fastball. I was just fortunate enough to get hold of it. I actually thought we were going to win it 1-0,” Thomas said.

Dwight Evans saved the night for Clemens when he homered over the centerfield wall with two out in the seventh and Steve Lyons and Ed Romero aboard.

“It was right down the middle, right where we didn’t want it,” Mariners catcher Steve Yeager said.

Lyons began the rally with a two-out single to left. Glenn Hoffman drew a walk, and Romero came in to pinch run for him before Evans connected.

“I hit a fastball. He -- Morore -- was throwing well. He tried to throw it by me. It felt good when I hit it,” Evans said. “I’m so happy for Roger. The man is a hard worker. Tonight was exciting, a big night. It was good to get the fans up and behind us.”