Clemens Hurls 5-Hitter and Beats Angels, 3-0

Roger Clemens scattered five hits for his major league-leading fourth shutout this season Tuesday night as the Boston Red Sox downed the Angels, 3-0, on Jim Rice’s two-run homer.

Clemens, who set a major-league record last season by striking out 20 in one game, failed to strike out a batter and didn’t issue a walk as he improved his record to 9-7 with his 10th complete game of the season.

Kirk McCaskill (2-2) making his second start since undergoing right elbow surgery April 27, was the loser after leaving the game in the fourth inning because of tightness in his shoulder and elbow.

Wade Boggs, who doubled in the first, led off the Boston fourth with a single, and Rice followed with his ninth homer, into the Red Sox bullpen in right-center.

Reliever Jack Lazorko was tagged for a run in the sixth on Bill Buckner’s bases-loaded single.

Only two Angels advanced as far as third base against Clemens. Ruppert Jones doubled and took third on an infield out in the first, but was stranded when Jack Howell grounded out.

Doug DeCinces began the second with a single and took third on a two-out single by Mark McLemore. Clemens retired Gus Polidor on a fly to shallow right.

The loss was only the fourth in the Angels’ last 17 road games. The victory was Boston’s fourth in the last 15 games.