Clemens a Hit in Red Sox Victory

AL East: Pitcher gives up back-to-back homers to Tigers, then hits Shelby, causing benches to clear.

As a rule, .177 hitters have a problem batting against Roger Clemens. Detroit’s John Shelby was no exception Saturday at Boston.

But it wasn’t the strong right arm of the Red Sox pitcher that stopped Shelby. It was catcher John Marzano.

Marzano tackled the irate Shelby in the second inning when the light-hitting center fielder charged the mound after being hit in the back with a pitch by Clemens. Clemens had yielded back-to-back home runs by Pete Incaviglia and Rob Deer.

Both benches emptied and there was shoving and pushing, but no punches were thrown. Shelby was ejected, but Clemens was allowed to remain on the mound.

Clemens, given a warning, settled down thereafter as the Red Sox came from behind to win, 7-4. Clemens, who struck out nine, goes into the All-Star game Tuesday with an 11-5 record.

The successive home runs had helped the Tigers to a 4-2 lead. But Clemens denied he was throwing at Shelby.

“After the home runs, Shelby went after a fastball outside and fouled it to left. Then I came inside with another fastball. I thought he was going to get out of the way, but it hit him in the back.

“The next thing I knew, he was charging the mound, bat in hand. All I could do was hold my ground. Marzie kind of bulldogged him from behind like we do in Texas. When the melee was over, I told him (Shelby) I had to pitch inside because I’ve been leaving too many pitches out over the plate.”

Shelby said, “I didn’t hit him with the bat, so I’m not going to say anything.”

Detroit Manager Sparky Anderson played the game under protest because Clemens wasn’t ejected.

Dan Gakeler protected the Tigers’ 4-2 lead until the seventh, when Luis Rivera opened the inning with a single. Paul Gibson (3-4) replaced Gakeler and all three batters he faced singled to key a four-run rally that put Clemens in charge.

Clemens, who went eight innings, threw 128 pitches, but said he would be ready for the All-Star game.

The Tigers have 101 homers in 80 games.