Clemens Bows Out of Boston With 10 Strikeouts

L.A. Times Archives

Sept. 29, 1996 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Not knowing if he’ll be back, Roger Clemens said goodbye to Boston on Saturday with a 10-strikeout performance like those from his early years and a hard-luck loss that characterized the end of his Red Sox career.

Clemens, who becomes a free agent in the off-season, missed out in what was probably his final chance to break Cy Young’s team record for wins. Mike Aldrete and Bernie Williams homered to give the New York Yankees a 4-2 victory at Boston.

Asked if he thought it was his Fenway Park finale, Clemens said: “I treated it that way. I don’t know what the future holds. All’s it is is a guessing game now.”

Clemens (10-13) has said he wants a four-year contract and a chance to win a title and it’s doubtful that the Red Sox will sign him.

When Boston Manager Kevin Kennedy removed him from the game with two outs in the eighth inning, the Red Sox infielders gathered at the pitcher’s mound to wish him well and the fans gave him a two-minute standing ovation.

After taking some souvenir dirt from the mound, Clemens headed to the dugout, tipping his hat once on his way there and again after the crowd called him back.

OTHER GAMES

Albert Belle hit his 48th homer and Kevin Seitzer went four for four as the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals, 5-4, at Kansas City. If Cleveland wins today’s regular-season finale, the AL Central champions (99-61) would be the first team to win 100 games in consecutive seasons since Baltimore in 1979 and ’80.

The Seattle Mariners, eliminated from the playoff race when Baltimore won at Toronto, beat the Athletics, 5-3, in 10 innings at Oakland.

Also eliminated from the wild-card race earlier in the day, the Chicago White Sox lost to the Minnesota Twins, 7-6, at Minneapolis when Pat Meares doubled in the winning run in the ninth.

Cal Eldred pitched six shutout innings and Jeff Cirillo had four hits as the Milwaukee Brewers handed the Detroit Tigers their 16th consecutive home loss with a 7-2 win. The loss was Detroit’s 108th this season, the most in the majors since Oakland dropped 108 in 1987.

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Playoff Glance

TEXAS VS. NEW YORK

Tuesday

* Texas (Burkett 5-2) at New York

(Cone 7-2), 5 p.m. (NBC)

Wednesday

* Texas (Hill 16-10) at New York

(Pettitte 21-8), 5 p.m. (Fox)

Friday

* New York (Key 12-11) at Texas

(Oliver 14-6), 5 p.m. (NBC)