Clemens Tops 1,000 Mark in Strikeouts : Red Sox Batter Cleveland With 15-Hit Attack

Roger Clemens allowed only three singles and struck out eight in seven innings today, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 9-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Wade Boggs had three hits and three RBIs, while Marty Barrett had three doubles and Dwight Evans homered in a 15-hit attack against four Cleveland pitchers.

Clemens, 1-0 after two no-decision starts on the road, left with Boston ahead 9-1 at the end of seven. Mike Smithson pitched the last two innings.

While throwing 112 pitches, Clemens became the fourth Boston pitcher in history to reach the 1,000-strikeout milestone. With 1,005 strikeouts, he trails only Cy Young, who had 1,341 early in the century, Luis Tiant with 1,075, and Bruce Hurst with 1,043.

Winning for just the fourth time in 15 starts since last August, Clemens extended his lifetime record against Cleveland to 10-1, including 7-0 in Fenway Park.

Booed loudly before the home opener Monday for off-season criticism on the city and fans, Clemens was given a standing ovation when he fanned Brook Jacoby with the bases loaded in the second for his 1,000th strikeout.

The Red Sox, who received eight walks, had at least one runner in each inning.

Rich Yett, 1-1, who beat Clemens 4-2 in Cleveland last Sept. 30, allowed five runs on six hits and four walks in 2 1/3 innings. Scott Bailes allowed seven hits and three runs, one unearned, in 3 1/3 innings before Brad Havens gave up Evans’ first homer in the seventh.

Boggs singled across one run, and Barrett doubled home two more in the second. Jody Reed had a two-run double in the third.

Boggs drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Boston scored twice more on a fielding error by Pete O’Brien and a single by Boggs in the sixth.