Twins5Red Sox1
MINNEAPOLIS - The catcher's mitt was still popping so hard it could be heard around the stadium, and the scouts with radar guns sitting behind home plate were still registering 95-m.p.h. readings.
A week away from his 34th birthday, Clemens can still wow those who measure speed, but in this odd 1996 season, the three-time Cy Young Award throws well enough to lose. Last night he allowed three runs in seven innings as the Red Sox bowed to the Minnesota Twins, 5-1, before 17,768 fans at the Metrodome.
While Clemens, now 4-10 with a 4.13 ERA, took his latest loss in stride, blaming no one, his catcher, Mike Stanley, took it hard.
``In all of the years I've caught, I've never caught a pitcher who has better, more consistent stuff than Roger does every single time he steps to the mound,'' said Stanley. ``I have a hard time accepting why we can't score any runs for him. I don't know if we as a team think Roger can win it alone when he's out there because of his reputation.
``But I've gained so much respect for him. I've never seen a guy who's handled this with the poise, character and patience that he has. During the game, he comes into the dugout and he does everything to get us going. Despite the fact that Brad Radke had great stuff, Roger was trying to make us all believe we're better.
``He's doing all he can possibly do. I know there are people out there who say he's not as good as he used to be. He's still a damned good pitcher. The best I've ever caught.''
But not the best on the mound at the Metrodome last night. That distinction went to Radke (6-13), who retired the first 13 men he faced and went on to toss a five-hitter over eight-plus innings before lefthander Eddie Guardado and righty Dan Naulty finished off the Sox, who scored their only run in the ninth on Mo Vaughn's fielder's choice, his 95th RBI.
Having averaged 138 pitches per start this season and after throwing 160 in his his last outing Sunday, Clemens was positively economical last night, throwing only 105 pitches.
``What I'm concerned about is keeping my team in the game and giving our guys a chance to win the game,'' he said. ``My arm feels great, my legs are strong and I'm very happy with the way I'm throwing. I don't think about how unlucky I am. There are years I won 18 where I should have won 24 or 25 and it didn't happen.''
The Sox are 6-17 in Clemens' starts, and he entered the game with the 12th-worst run support among American League pitchers.
Stan Belinda, making his first appearance since May 19, relieved Clemens to start the eighth and put a couple of runners on, both of whom scored on pinch hitter Ron Coomer's single off Mike Stanton.
Clemens allowed single runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh, the third (on a Matt Walbeck sacrifice fly) sealing the Sox' fate.
Hurting Clemens' cause was Jeff Frye's baserunning blunder in the sixth after he'd beaten out an infield hit, the second hit off Radke.
Vaughn, the DH in place of injured Jose Canseco, doubled down the right-field line. Running on the play, Frye inexplicably stopped as he rounded second and looked around in confusion. Once he picked up the ball, he continued to run but was nailed at the plate on a nice relay throw from Chuck Knoblauch as Walbeck applied the sweeping tag.
Why did Frye stop?
``I thought it was a straight steal and I didn't hear the crack of the bat,'' said Frye. ``I was also thrown off by [Pat] Meares, who was just standing there.''
Kevin Kennedy insisted that Frye should have picked up third base coach Dave Oliver on a ball hit to the right-field corner, but Frye wasn't even thinking that way because he didn't know Vaughn had hit one to the corner.
This story ran on page e11 of the Boston Globe on 07/27/96.