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Clemens K's 20 Mariners!
Boston -- "Rocket, do you realize that you are
one away from tying the strikout record?" his teammate Al Nipper said
before the 9th inning. With that Roger Clemens struck out two more Mariner
batters to become the first pitcher to strikeout 20 batters in one game.
With
18 already in the bag, Roger blew a fastball past Spike Owen for strike three.
Now he was tied with other fireballers, Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton, and Tom
Seaver. The scoreboard now flashed the message "Roger Clemens has tied the
Major League record for strikeouts in a 9-inning game with 19".
The crowd of 13,414 stood on its feet in anticipation of seeing history being
made. Up walked Mariner outfielder Phil Bradley. With three straight fastballs,
Clemens set himself above all other pitchers. The last batter, Ken Phelps,
grounded out to seal the record at 20.
"I
watched perfect games by Catfish Hunter and Mike Witt, but this was the most
awesome pitching I've ever seen", said Boston manager John McNamara.
Mariner pitching coach, who was a teammate of Sandy Koufax, said it "was
the best game I've ever seen."
Clemens threw 97 strikes and 41 balls for
the game. Of those strikes, only 29 were even touched by the batter, 19 fouled
off and 10 put into play. Mariner manager Chuck Cottier said "Two things
make Clemens unusual among power pitchers. First, his fastball explodes down in
the strike zone and, second, the only others with his control were Koufax - at
the end- and Bob Gibson." Red Sox Rich Gedman added, "Roger works like
a 40 year-old, knocks hitters off the plate and paints like and artist."
FIRST |
PITCH |
RESULT |
Owen |
3-2 |
K |
Bradley |
3-2 |
K |
Phelps |
3-2 |
K |
SECOND |
|
|
Thomas |
1-0 |
Flied out |
Presely |
0-2 |
K |
Calderon |
0-2 |
K |
THIRD |
|
|
Tartabull |
3-2 |
Ground out |
Henderson |
0-2 |
K |
Yeager |
3-2 |
Flied out |
FOURTH |
|
|
Owen |
0-2 |
Single |
Bradley |
2-2 |
K |
Phelps |
2-2 |
K |
Thomas |
3-2 |
K |
FIFTH |
|
|
Presley |
2-2 |
K |
Calderon |
0-2 |
K |
Tartabull |
2-2 |
K |
SIXTH |
|
|
Henderson |
2-2 |
K |
Yeager |
2-2 |
K |
Owen |
1-1 |
Flied out |
SEVENTH |
|
|
Bradley |
1-2 |
K |
Phelps |
2-2 |
K |
Thomas |
1-2 |
Homerun |
Presley |
0-2 |
Grounded out |
EIGHTH |
|
|
Calderon |
0-2 |
K |
Tartabull |
1-1 |
Single |
Henderson |
2-2 |
K |
Collins (pinch hitter) |
1-1 |
Flied out |
NINTH |
|
|
Owen |
1-2 |
K |
Bradley |
2-2 |
K |
Phelps |
2-1 |
Grounded out |
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