Distant Replay: The night Roger Clemens burst onto the scene with a 20-K game -

The 1986 season in Boston was a special one in many ways, even if it’s largely remembered for the utter heartbreak with which it ended.

The Red Sox were in first place by mid-May and never relinquished their lead in the AL East. Meanwhile 23-year-old Roger Clemens, who was returning from a shortened 1985 season following shoulder surgery, went on to win American League Cy Young and MVP honors by posting a 2.48 ERA, winning 24 of his 33 starts and striking out 238 in 254 innings.

Clemens dazzled that season, but perhaps never more so than when he set the major league record with 20 strikeouts in a single game on April 29 against the Seattle Mariners.

The game

As Clemens took the mound in the first, NESN broadcasters Ned Martin and Bob Montgomery made note of the wind blowing in, making a 56-degree April day feel much colder.

The stands were barren at the start of the game, and only filled later to less than half of Fenway’s capacity. The announced attendance was 13,414.

Was the 20-strikeout performance a surprise? Sure, but consider his strong early-season performance:

ERA	IP	H	ER	BB	K	HR
1.85	24-1/3	19	5	10	19	3

After a rainout in Kansas City, Clemens’ start had been pushed back two days, giving him six days of rest.

It seemed to help.

The right-hander came out firing in the first inning striking out the side on 21 pitches. His command would become much better as the game progressed, but he went to a full count on Spike Owen, Phil Bradley and Ken Phelps in the first before striking each out. He only had three three-ball counts the rest of the game, and none after the fourth inning.

The 21 pitches in the first were the most he’d throw in any inning, and despite the pitch count, it was apparent early on that Clemens was about to have himself a day.

End first inning: 3 Ks

“He seems to be on right now,” Martin said.

Lost in the dominance of Clemens’ day was his counterpart’s equally impressive performance. Right-hander Mike Moore started for the Mariners, and though he didn’t have the strikeout totals Clemens did, he held the Red Sox scoreless for six innings before surrendering the lead.

Ironically, Clemens had never beaten Seattle prior to this game and was 0-2 with a 9.58 ERA against the Mariners.

Gorman Thomas lined out to right to start the second, the first batter to put the ball in play off Clemens, but the righty would go on to strike out the next two batters, Presley and Calderon, on six pitches.

End second inning: 5 Ks

“Not much question about Roger being on a roll right now,” Montgomery said. “He’s doing it both ways with the heater and with the good sharp breaking ball.”

Clemens continued to cruise in the third, sandwiching a strikeout of future teammate Dave Henderson between a groundout and fly out.

End third inning: 6 Ks

“All Gedman has to do is present the target right now to Roger with the way he’s going,” Martin said.

In the fourth, Clemens opened the inning against his former University of Texas teammate Owen, who got the first Seattle hit of the game, a single to right, as fans booed in the background. Clemens rewarded Owen by throwing over to first base six times in the subsequent at-bat before striking out the next three batters.

“Roger hasn’t really played around much with the middle part of the plate,” Montgomery said. "Not only is he striking people out, he’s not doing it just power-wise, he’s doing it with a little bit of control mixed in. Had a couple of strikeouts on some curveballs.”

One of the strikeouts, however, almost wasn't. With two outs, Clemens elicited a pop-up from Gorman Thomas along the first base side.

Don Baylor drifted back, at first in place of Bill Buckner, dropped the ball.

“Well that gives Roger another chance,” Martin said.

And one pitch later, his 66th of the game, Clemens struck out Thomas.

End fourth inning: 9 Ks

As the fifth inning began, cameras showed fans in the bleachers cheering, a massive Marlboro sign on the wall behind them. Clemens needed only 14 pitches to strike out the side.

“What a show he’s putting on now,” Martin said.

End fifth inning: 12 Ks

“That umpire’s been busy,” Montgomery added, referring to home plate ump Vic Voltaggio. “Mr. Voltaggio’s right hand, he may have to go get a rub down on that before this game is over.”

With all the strikeouts piling up, one specific fan's absence suddenly became notable at Fenway on this cool Tuesday night.

"The guy who hangs up all the Ks no matter where he sits, in the bleachers or down left field, he is really, really going to hate himself tomorrow," Montgomery said. "He is not here tonight.”

Clemens struck out the first two batters of the sixth inning, including Yeager, who was the only Mariners batter not to strike out yet. That set a New Red Sox record with eight consecutive strikeouts, a mark that still stands today. Clemens got a standing ovation from the small crowd when he left the mound, the game still scoreless.

End sixth inning: 14 Ks

The Red Sox nearly got on the board after that, but after a Boggs walk and Buckner double with one out, Jim Rice and Baylor couldn’t drive them in.

When Clemens struck out Phil Bradley on four pitches to start the seventh, it tied a personal record with his 15th strikeout. Clemens got Ken Phelps swinging next for strikeout No. 16.

That brought Thomas to the plate with two outs. Thomas turned on a 1-2 pitch and smashed it to center.

“Fly ball straight away center field,” Montgomery said. “Lyons right at the grill work … it’s a home run.”

Boos rained down on Thomas as he circled the bases. It was only the second Mariners hit of the game.

The game hit the seventh inning stretch with Clemens dominating the Mariners, but still losing, 1-0.

End seventh inning: 16 Ks

A feeling of dread — that the Sox could be wasting a historically dominant pitching performance — was likely hovering in the dugout. The Sox didn't inspire confidence when Rich Gedman and Marty Barrett were retired to start the bottom of the inning.

But with two outs, Lyons singled to left. Glenn Hoffman then drew a four-pitch walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Ed Romero (the father of current Red Sox assistant GM Eddie Romero).

A pair of relievers started warming for the Mariners as Dwight Evans came to the plate. On a 2-0 pitch from Moore, Evans put a massive swing on the ball and drove it over the wall in left-center field.

Suddenly, momentum pivoted and Clemens returned to the mound in control of the game with a 3-1 lead.

Something else returned to Fenway too.

“There are the Ks out in right field. All of a sudden they appeared,” Martin said, as the NESN cameras showed the Ks plastered on the wall.

“The guy must have been listening or watching and got here,” Montgomery added.

With two frames left, Clemens was in range of the major league record of 19, shared by Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, and Steve Carlton. Meanwhile, Joe Sambito and Bob Stanley warmed in the Red Sox bullpen.

Down went Ivan Calderon on three pitches.

Danny Tartabull singled next and brought Henderson back to the plate.

“You start thinking about records now,” Martin said. “He’s within two.”

The tiny crowd at Fenway did its best to give the park a postseason feel. Anticipation rose with each of Clemens’ pitches. He got Henderson to a 2-2 count. Henderson swung and missed on the next pitch.

“Strike three! Eighteen! Never has there been this excitement the last couple years here,” Martin bellowed. “And it’s not a sellout crowd by any means, but they’re making sellout noises. Red Sox record for strikeouts in a game.”

Al Cowens pinch-hit for Steve Yeager and flied out to center.

End eighth inning: 18 Ks

Moore exited the game after recording one out in the eighth. Many in the Fenway crowd gave him a standing ovation. His performance would have been enough to make him the best pitcher in the game on almost any other night.

The Red Sox stranded two in the eighth and Clemens took the mound in the ninth with a two-run lead.

Owen opened the inning by showing bunt and then, with a defensive swing, lined a ground ball to Boggs at third. Boggs, however, picked it up in foul ground.

Owen came back to the plate and eventually waved at a fastball, high and outside. Clemens had officially carved a spot for himself in the record book with his 19th strikeout.

Bradley was next. He had already been a strikeout victim three times.

Clemens needed five pitches to make him a four-time victim. The record-setter went on the inside corner of the plate, freezing Bradley for the called third strike.

“A new record!” Martin yelled. “Clemens has set a major league record for strikeouts in a game — 20!”

The fans were jumping and cheering and waving their hats as the cameras panned the crowd. In the Red Sox dugout, Clemens’ teammates were jumping and high-fiving. Oil Can Boyd clapped his hands together emphatically. Clemens, stone-faced, bent over to clean his cleats.

“We'll just let ‘em yell,” Martin said.

The camera showed the K signs in right field again. There wasn’t enough space left for the long string of Ks, so the 20th K was stacked on top in a separate row.

Phelps stepped to the plate and Clemens surpassed 135 pitches on the final batter. Phelps would not add to Clemens' strikeout total. He grounded out to Romero at short to end the game.

End ninth inning: 20 Ks

Clemens threw his hands in the air after the out was recorded. Gedman rushed out to hug him and their teammates mobbed them near the mound.

“A tremendous hand for Roger Clemens,” Martin said.

Today Clemens would undoubtedly be interviewed on the field after a performance like that. But not in 1986. Clemens soaked in the cheers, delivered a bunch of high-fives, accepted some hugs and stepped down into the clubhouse.

The right-hander threw 138 pitches — 97 strikes — and tallied an eye-popping 37 swings-and-misses. For a modern-day comparison, in a K-heavy environment an elite pitcher like Chris Sale manages 20-to-25 swings and misses in an excellent start.

Clemens gave up just three hits and walked none, while allowing seven balls in play.

And he’d do it all again 10 years later in 1996.

(Photo: Mike Kullen / AP)

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