BASEBALL: DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Clemens Returns to Boston for Exam

Roger Clemens left the Red Sox on Monday and returned to Boston to have his injured right groin examined. His status for the rest of the season is uncertain.

Clemens hurt himself Sunday while warming up to pitch the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles. The injury was not deemed to be serious at the time.

Clemens left Baltimore on Monday before Boston’s night game against the Orioles. He will be examined by Red Sox team physician Arthur Pappas today. Clemens, 18-11 with a 2.41 earned-run average, is bidding for his fourth Cy Young Award.

Catcher Chris Hoiles of the Baltimore Orioles will undergo surgery a week from today to repair his right wrist, which apparently did not heal properly after he fractured it June 21.

Hoiles, who missed two months of the season after he was hit on the wrist by a pitch from then-New York Yankee right-hander Tim Leary, will be available to play during the final six games of the season. However, it is unlikely he will see much action.

“They are going to go in there,” Manager Johnny Oates said Monday. “This is the only way to guarantee that Chris will be ready for spring training.”

The decision apparently was made late Sunday, after Hoiles consulted with hand specialist Dr. Hugh Baugher. He apparently had the choice of resting the wrist during the off-season or addressing the situation immediately.

Don Denkinger, a 24-year veteran in the American League, and John McSherry, with 22 years of National League experience, will lead the two crews assigned to umpire the playoffs.

The AL also on Monday named Joe Brinkman, Al Clark, Drew Coble, Durwood Merrill and Larry Young to work its games. The NL said McSherry will be joined by Ed Montague, Randy Marsh, Steve Rippley, Gerry Davis and Gary Darling.