Clemens took the ball in the top of the first and Rickey Henderson led the game off with a full count walk. Stan Javier struck out swinging as Sox broadcaster Bob Kurtz pointed out the last time Clemens beat the A's. Ruben Sierra popped up to Tim Naehring in foul territory before Troy Neel lined out to a running Lee Tinsley to end the inning. Karsay took the mound in the bottom of the first and Otis Nixon swung and missed for strike three to begin. Billy Hatcher singled down the left field line but was called out at second trying to steal. Replays showed Hatcher was safe but the call stood as Greenwell grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Clemens turned up the heat in the top of the second and Mike Aldrete swung halfheartedly for strike three to begin. Terry Steinbach went down swinging and Mike Brumley was frozen for strike three to end the inning. Mo Vaughn walked to begin the bottom of the second but Tim Naehring flied out to center. Scott Cooper and John Valentin both struck out swinging to end the inning.
Mike Bordick led off the top of the third by grounding out to second to start. Scott Hemond was rung up for strike three on the inside corner before Henderson grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as Lee Tinsley grounded out to second to start. Dave Valle fell down while striking out swinging before Nixon popped up to left to end the inning.
Javier led off the top of the fourth by dumping a base hit to right but Tinsley ran down a Sierra liner. Javier took second on a grounder to Naehring by Neel before Aldrete grounded out to Vaughn to end the inning with Clemens at 69 pitches. Hatcher grounded out to short to begin the bottom of the fourth before Greenwell grounded out to second. Vaughn was rung up on a nasty pitch on the corner to end the inning.
Steinbach led off the top of the fifth by popping up to Vaughn in foul territory to start. Brumley poked a base hit to center before Hatcher ran down a liner by Bordick, losing his hat and exposing his bald head in the process. Hemond was so distracted by Hatcher's head that he took strike three to end the inning.
Karsay stayed tough in the bottom of the fifth as Naehring was thrown out by Bordick on a bang bang play at first to start. Cooper flied out to left but Valentin broke his bat on a bloop single to center. Tinsley whiffed to end the inning.
Henderson accidently check swinged a liner to Vaughn to start the top of the sixth before Javier damn near beat out a routine grounder to Naehring. Sierra was rung up for strike three to end the inning. Javier robbed Valle of a hit with a great running catch to start the bottom of the sixth before Nixon was called out on strikes. Hatcher motored around for a scintillating triple but Greenwell grounded out to first to end the inning.
Clemens remained strong in the top of the seventh as Neel whiffed to begin. Aldrete grounded out to second but Steinbach drew a walk. Brumley grounded into a force to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the seventh as Vaughn doubled off the ladder hanging from the Monster to start. Naehring dropped down a bunt to move Vaughn to third and he scored on the sac fly by Cooper. Valentin then cracked his second home run of the year into the screen in left to increase the lead. Tinsley grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Could Clemens pitch with the lead in the top of the eighth? YES! Bordick grounded out to short on a nice pick by Vaughn before Geronimo Berroa pinch hit for Hermond. Berroa grounded out to second before Henderson took his sweet time getting in the batter's box. Clemens let him know by buzzing him high and inside before Rickey grounded out to third to end the inning. Junior Noboa took over at second for the bottom of the eighth as Valle beat out an infield single to start. Nixon popped up a bunt attempt but Hatcher singled to left. Greenwell popped up to short before Vaughn whiffed to end the inning. Karsay pitched well but just wasn't good enough.
Clemens returned to finish his masterpiece in the top of the ninth as Javier was rung up for strike three much to Stan's chagrin. Sierra grounded out to short and Neel was called out on strikes to end the game. That was the 55th time Clemens struck out at least ten batters and the Sox had won the game 2-0.
Hero of the Night is Roger Clemens. He tossed a complete game 2 hit shutout while walking two and striking out 10 batters.
The Good:
Billy Hatcher was 3 for 4.
Mo Vaughn was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
John Valentin was 2 for 3 with a solo home run.
Dave Valle was 1 for 3.
The Bad:
Otis Nixon was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Mike Greenwell was 0 for 4.
Tim Naehring was 0 for 2.
Lee Tinsley was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Scott Cooper was 0 for 2 but drove in a run.
Final Thoughts:
Lousy offense today but a wonderful pitcher's duel with some good catches thrown in. Clemens looked like himself for the first time all season and that's a good thing considering what the rest of the rotation looks like. Unless Aaron Sele is the next stud, it doesn't look good for this year moving forward. One thing for sure is the Sox need to draft a catcher or something because they haven't had much out of that spot once Tony Pena deteriorated. As for this game, not much to say other than Clemens looked great. A win is a win and it was a good one. Tomorrow afternoon Joe Hesketh goes for the Sox against Bobby Witt of the A's as the Sox look to sweep the series at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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