Clemens Shuts Out Indians (4/13/91)

On the same night that the Boston Bruins eliminated the Hartford Whalers in the first round of the NHL playoffs, the Boston Red Sox 3 game losing streak came to an end. It was Boston's ace, Roger Clemens (2-0, 0.53 ERA) who bailed them out. Clemens was amazing as he tossed a complete game, 3 hit shutout against the Cleveland Indians. He struck out 11 and didn't walk anyone to keep the Indians in check. Offensively the Sox didn't do much against Indians starter Greg Swindell but Carlos Quintana drove in 2 runs off him. It wasn't pretty but the Sox did just enough to win the game 4-0 at Fenway Park.

                                                          Julie Clarke approves of the win

Clemens got the ball in the top of the first inning and Alex Cole grounded out to short to start. Jerry Browne grounded out to third and Carlos Baerga flied out to center to end the inning. Swindell got the ball in the bottom of the first and Wade Boggs grounded out to short to start. Jody Reed took strike three but Mike Greenwell walked. Jack Clark flied out to center to end the inning.

Albert Belle whiffed to start the top of the second inning before Sandy Alomar took strike three. Brook Jacoby lined out to left to end the inning. Ellis Burks flied out to right to start the bottom of the second and Tom Brunansky flied out to left. Carlos Quintana grounded out to short to end the inning.

Chris James flied out to right to start the top of the third before Felix Fermin struck out swinging. Turner Ward grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the third as Tony Pena hit a liner to Jacoby...DROPPED! Pena took first on the error and Tim Naehring got a base hit. Boggs hit a routine grounder to Fermin who flipped to Browne for the out and THREW THE BALL COMPLETELY OUT OF THE PARK! Pena scored to give the Sox the lead but Reed flied out to left. Greenwell flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.

                                                         Pena scores the first run

Cole took strike three to start the top of the fourth and Browne flied out to left. Baerga whiffed to end the inning. The Sox threatened in the bottom of the fourth although Clark grounded back to the mound to start. Burks walked but was thrown out trying to steal second. Brunansky walked and Quintana singled to left, but Pena grounded into a force to end the inning.

Belle grounded out to short to start the top of the fifth and Alomar lined out to left. Jacoby singled to center to break up the perfect game but James whiffed to end the inning.

                                          "How DARE they break up my perfect game!" - RC

Naehring whiffed to start the bottom of the fifth and Boggs flied out to left. Reed lined out to center to end the inning.

Fermin took strike three to open the top of the sixth but Ward singled to left. Ward moved to second on the grounder by Cole but Browne grounded out to second to end the inning. Boston got some much needed insurance in the bottom of the sixth although Greenwell lined out to left to start. Clark singled in the hole at short but Burks popped up to third in foul territory. Brunansky doubled down the left field line and Quintana singled home both runners to increase the lead. Pena grounded back to the mound to end the inning but it was 3-0 Sox.

                                                        Quintana drives in a pair

Clemens cruised in the top of the seventh as Baerga grounded out to second to start. Belle took strike three and Alomar whiffed to end the inning. Naehring took strike three to begin the bottom of the seventh and Boggs lined out to center. Reed and Greenwell stroked back to back singles to chase Swindell. Bruce Egloff came in to pitch and struck out Clark swinging to end the inning.

Jacoby popped up to first to start the top of the eighth and James hit one up the elevator shaft. Beau Allred pinch hit for Fermin and struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the eighth with Jose Escobar now at short. Burks doubled to left and Brunansky singled him home for another run. Bruno moved to second on the Quintana grounder but remained there on the Pena grounder to third. Naehring lined out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-0.

                                                             Brunansky drives in a run

Clemens returned to finish the job in the top of the ninth and Ward grounded out to first to start. Cole singled to second but Browne banged into a double play to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-0.

                                    

Hero of the Night is Roger Clemens. He pitched a complete game, 3 hit shutout while striking out 11 batters.

                                                                 Rocket Hero

The Good:

Mike Greenwell was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Ellis Burks was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Tom Brunansky was 2 for 3 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.

Carlos Quintana was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.

The Bad:

Wade Boggs was 0 for 4.

The Ugly:

Jody Reed was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Jack Clark was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.

Tony Pena was 0 for 4 but scored a run.

Tim Naehring was just 1 for 4.

Final Thoughts:

Nothing like having your ace stop a potential losing streak with a gem. Clemens pitched a hell of a game and the Sox did just enough offensively to get him the win. Quintana's two runs batted in were much needed insurance even though Clemens was in complete control. The Sox are gonna need more games like this from Clemens not only to repeat as AL East champions but to offset the loss of Mike Boddicker, especially if Danny Darwin is going to stink up the place like he did Thursday. It would be nice to see more offense but again, what they did was enough with Clemens locked in. The Sox look to make it two in a row tomorrow afternoon over the Indians when they send Greg Harris (0-1) to the mound to face Tom Candiotti of the Indians. The game begins at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.