Clemens Hurt as Line Drive Strikes Arm

How hard was it hit? It was hit so hard that it caromed off Roger Clemens’ right elbow and over the head of Boston Red Sox second baseman Marty Barrett, who was positioned on the back edge of the infield dirt.

It was hit so hard that Boston Manager John McNamara said later he was almost afraid to look. And Cookie Rojas, the Angels’ advance scout who was sitting behind home plate at Fenway Park, said it was hit so hard and hit Clemens so solidly that “I don’t think he’ll be able to pitch for 10 days.”

The Red Sox open the American League playoffs against the Angels here next Tuesday night.

Clemens, the 24-game winner who is both stabilizer and stopper for the Red Sox and the American League’s Lord of the Ks, is scheduled to pitch the opener.

Will he? Or have the Red Sox lost their ace pitcher before the playoffs begin?

The definitive answer may come today when it is determined how much swelling and stiffness Clemens is going to experience as a result of being hit by a rocketing line drive Wednesday night in the second inning of his final regular-season start.

It was hit by Baltimore Orioles catcher John Stefero, who carries a .241 batting average and strikes out an average of once every five at-bats.

Clemens saw it coming but couldn’t pull out of his follow-through. It was later determined that he took the hit on the bone just above the elbow. He grabbed the spot with his left hand and headed toward the dugout.

Said Stefero: “It seemed to me he was more scared than hurt.”

Accompanied by his wife, Debbie, and teammate Al Nipper, Clemens was taken to Childrens Hospital for X-rays that proved negative.

He returned to the park but left before the Red Sox wrapped up an 11-7 victory in which they had given Clemens, attempting to become the first Boston pitcher to win 25 games since Mel Parnell in 1949, a 4-0 first-inning lead.

Said Dr. Arthur Pappas, the team physician:

“I’ll be able to make a better evaluation tomorrow, but I don’t think we’re talking about missing extended time.

“I think he’ll be pitching competitively within the early framework of the playoffs.

“There were no fractures, no cuts and no immediate evidence of swelling.

“He was hit on bone rather than muscle, and that generally is an advantage as far as swelling is concerned.

“He maintained normal elbow function, but the difference between normal function and the throwing of a baseball involves a different set of parameters.”

Pappas said Clemens expressed concern and disappointment but was relieved that the X-rays seemed to indicate he should be pitching “within days rather than weeks.”

McNamara said: “Needless to say, it was very scary, but we’re thankful it’s a bruise and not a break. He’s a tough young man with a high pain tolerance. I talked with him when he first went into the trainers’ room, and he said that he thought he would be all right.”

Already facing an uncertain situation with Tom Seaver, McNamara paused, sighed and said: “I really don’t think I can say any more. My patience is strained right now, and it’s going to be a tough night waiting to get back here tomorrow (to find out about Clemens).”

The Boston manager had earlier named Clemens, Bruce Hurst and Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd to pitch the first three games of the playoff series with the Angels. At the time, Clemens, still waiting to face the Orioles in his final tuneup, had implied that the who, where and when of the Boston rotation didn’t matter.

“The Angels will have to shut us out to beat us, the way our pitching is right now,” Clemens said.

His confidence stemmed from the fact that the three starters are a combined 18-2 since Aug. 15, with Clemens 7-0, Hurst 6-1 and Boyd 5-1.

McNamara, in naming his rotation before the Clemens injury, said he would bring Clemens back on three days’ rest only if the Red Sox were 0-3, although he didn’t close the door on 1-2.

If it is the other way, if the Red Sox are up 3-0 or 2-1, he said the Game 4 starter would be Nipper, 10-11 with a 5.51 earned-run average, or Seaver, 7-13 overall and 5-7 with the Red Sox.

Seaver hasn’t pitched since Sept. 19, when he withdrew during a game in Toronto because of a strained right knee.

He threw on the sideline Tuesday, reported lingering soreness Wednesday and said the key may be how he feels today.

The Red Sox must file their playoff roster by noon Monday. McNamara said that Seaver won’t be included unless he is able to pitch competitively before that, presumably in Sunday’s regular-season finale with New York.

Seaver said he understood the club’s thinking.

“It’s important for me to pitch before the club makes its roster decision so that it knows if I’ll be available or not,” Seaver said.