Florie Hit in Face by Drive in Red Sox Loss

Roger Clemens pitched five-hit ball for eight innings as the New York Yankees increased their American League East lead over Boston to seven games with a 4-0 victory over the Red Sox Friday night in a game in which pitcher Bryce Florie was hit in the face in the ninth by a line drive.

The ball, hit by Ryan Thompson, appeared to hit Florie below the right eye, and he was taken off the field on a cart with blood streaming down.

Florie was rushed to Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and team spokesman Kevin Shea said the extent of the injury wasn’t expected to be known before today.

“I’ve never seen that, something like that, up close,” said third baseman Lou Merloni, who picked up the ball and threw out Thompson at first. “To hear the sound I heard from third base, it wasn’t a good feeling.”

Clemens (12-6) struck out seven, walked two and is 8-0 since spending 16 days on the disabled list because of a strained groin. In his last three games, he has given up only one run and 13 hits in 23 innings.

“The last six starts, we’ve seen the fire in his eyes,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said. “It was apparent he was very determined when he came to the park today.”

Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth. This season, Clemens has left six games with leads the bullpen wasted.

Boston starter Tomo Ohka (3-4) gave up two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings--including David Justice’s 37th home run--as the Red Sox remained two games behind Cleveland in the wild-card race.

Clemens, who hasn’t lost in 15 starts since June 9 against the New York Mets, lowered his earned-run average to 3.38, second in the American League behind Boston’s Pedro Martinez (1.66).