Clemens began his dominance in the top of the first inning as Luis Polonia grounded out to third to start. Luis Sojo hit one up the elevator shaft and Junior Felix lined out to center to end the inning. Mark Langston got the start for California and Wade Boggs greeted him with a base hit to left to start the bottom of the first. Billy Hatcher lined out to center but Bob Zupcic whiffed. Tom Brunansky singled to left but Jack Clark swung at air to end the inning.
Clemens got his first strikeout in the top of the second when he blew away Gary Gaetti to begin. Chad Curtis grounded out to short and Von Hayes lined out to right to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as Jody Reed walked to start. Mo Vaughn doubled Reed to third but Tony Pena went down hacking. John Valentin walked to load the bases and Boggs scored Reed with a sac fly to put Boston on top. Hatcher blooped a single to center to score Vaughn with another run. Zupcic struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
More than enough cushion for Clemens who got Gary DiSarcina to ground out to first to open the top of the third inning. Ron Tingley whiffed but Damion Easley singled to center. Easley swiped second but Polonia was retired on a squibber in front of the plate to end the inning. The Sox added some more runs in the bottom of the third inning as Brunansky walked to start. Clark and Reed both got base hits to load the bases with nobody out. Vaughn whiffed but Pena dropped in a base hit to score Brunansky and reload the bases. Valentin beat out a double play ball to score Clark with another run. Boggs grounded into a force to end the inning but it was 4-0 Sox.
The Angels threatened in the top of the fourth inning as Sojo singled to right to start. Felix flied out to center but Gaetti walked. Curtis whiffed but a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Clemens blew away Hayes to end the inning. The Sox threatened in the bottom of the fourth although Hatcher grounded out to third to start. Zupcic dropped a base hit to left and Brunansky doubled him to third. Clark took strike three and Reed was intentionally walked to get to Vaughn. Mo grounded out to first to end the inning.
DiSarcina got plunked to open the top of the fifth inning but Tingley flied out to center. Easley walked but Polonia lined out to left and Sojo flied out to left to end the inning. Pena grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fifth before Valentin grounded out to third. Boggs tripled into the right field corner but Hatcher watched strike three go by to end the inning.
Clemens cruised in the top of the sixth inning as Felix grounded out to first to start. Gaetti whiffed before Curtis popped up to second to end the inning. The Sox got another run in the bottom of the sixth as Zupcic doubled to right to start. Brunansky walked and that was it for Langston. Mike Butcher came in and Clark walked to load the bases. Reed banged into a double play but Zupcic scored on the play. Vaughn took strike three to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-0.
Hayes tried to start a rally by pounding a ground rule double down the first base line to start the top of the seventh. Disarcina whiffed and Lee Stevens pinch hit for Tingley, drawing a walk. Easley lined out to center and Polonia flied out to center to end the inning. Mike Fitzgerald took over behind the plate for the bottom of the seventh as both Pena and Valentin hit balls up the elevator shaft to start. Boggs walked and Hatcher was hit with a pitch. Zupcic flied out to center to end the inning.
The Angels had no chance in the top of the eighth inning as Sojo flied out to left to start. Felix whiffed and Gaetti grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox had one last gift to the fans in the bottom of the eighth as Brunansky walked to start. Clark singled to right but Reed took strike three. Steve Frey was brought in to pitch to Vaughn and Mo clobbered his 9th home run of the season to wrap up the scoring. Chuck Crim came in to pitch to Pena and he fanned Tony before Valentin flied out to right to end the inning. Vaughn's 3 run home run put the Sox up 8-0 in the rout.
Clemens returned to finish the job in the top of the ninth although Curtis had the unmitigated audacity to get a base hit to left. Curtis advanced to second on the Hayes grounder before moving to third on the Disarcina grounder. Rob Ducey pinch hit for Fitzgerald for god knows what reason and took strike three to end the game. Clemens had thrown a complete game 4 hit shutout and the Sox won in a laughter 8-0.
Hero of the Night is easy. Roger Clemens tossed a complete game 4 hit shutout to honor Larry Bird. He walked three while striking out 8 batters.
The Good:
Wade Boggs was 2 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.
Bob Zupcic was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Tom Brunansky was 2 for 2 with 3 walks and 2 runs scored.
Jack Clark was 2 for 4 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Mo Vaughn was 2 for 5 with 2 total runs scored and a 3 run home run.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Billy Hatcher was just 1 for 4 but was hit with a pitch and drove in a run.
Tony Pena was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run.
John Valentin was 0 for 4 but walked and drove in a run.
Final Thoughts:
The season has been the absolute pits but at least they have Clemens every fifth day to give the fans a treat. Not only that but the Sox offense had a day against the Angels pitching. Sad that it took until August to figure out a lineup that works but here we are. Clemens pitched a determined game and what better way to honor Larry Legend? Bird may be gone and the feel good nature of the win will evaporate by tomorrow but for one day Boston can celebrate. The win improved the Sox to 55-64, 15 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to build momentum tomorrow when they send John Dopson (6-5, 3.44 ERA) to the mound to take on Jim Abbott at 7:35 PM at Fenway Park.
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