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