DETROIT - In a season of despair, the Detroit Tigers hit a new low last night. Even that was something of an achievement, because they didn't hit much else against Roger Clemens.
Travis Fryman was duly impressed after serving as the favorite - and historic - victim for the Red Sox righthander, who duplicated his own 10-year-old major league record with 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game. Fryman struck out four times, including the one that ended the game - a 4-0 Boston victory - and enabled Clemens to join himself in the record book. But the shortstop felt no need to apologize. He recognized early that Clemens was in an overpowering groove.
``Roger Clemens has been a great pitcher for a long time,'' said Fryman. ``That's as good as I've ever seen Roger throw, and I've been facing him since 1990. It was the best movement I've seen any pitcher have. The location was exceptional. The thing that separates good players from great players is that when great players are on, it doesn't matter who they are facing.''
Clemens drew raves from friends and rivals alike. His performance was so smooth that even plate umpire Tim McClelland didn't realize he was nearing a strikeout record until the eighth.
``That's as dominating as I've ever seen a pitcher pitch,'' said McClelland. ``I've had Randy Johnson a lot of times. Randy throws a fastball and slider and can be dominating. Roger threw a two- and four-seamer, forkball and a slider. He was just dominating. One inning Fryman came up and said, `We're not having fun.'''
Alan Trammell reached him for a first-inning hit off the glove of shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, but the Tigers collected only four singles on the night. They didn't have a chance.
``I know he's pitched some good ballgames against us,'' said Trammell. ``But the one thing that is different from years ago is that he has the split-finger. Tonight it was outstanding and his location was great. That's why Roger Clemens is Roger Clemens.''
Brad Ausmus said the split-finger's location was especially tough to handle. ``He kept it down where it was most effective,'' said the Detroit catcher. ``He put a fastball at my knees. There was nothing I could do about it. I couldn't even swing at it.''
Clemens made one man happy. Catcher Bill Haselman can now brag that he has caught two of the greatest fastball pitchers in history.
``This game is No. 1 with me as far as catching,'' said Haselman. ``I caught Randy Johnson and he was great. But Roger was outstanding tonight. He threw a two-seamer that was really moving a lot, and his forkball was doing the same thing. It was diving out of the strike zone.''
This story ran on page d5 of the Boston Globe on 09/19/96.