European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 9, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday october 9. 1986 the stars and stripes Page 17 sports Angels clobber Clemens in game 1 by Ben Walker a baseball Wilder Boston Mike Wilt pitched a five i incr and the California and Juls jolted Boston Ace Roger Clemens for four runs in inc second inning tuesday night to Beal the red so by in inc first game of the american league playoffs. Clemens pitching for the first Lime since being struck in inc right Elbow by a line drive last week could not find his rhythm Early on the Clear 50-Dcgrec night. Brian Downing drove in four runs for the , who scored More runs against Clemens than any icam his year. They pounded him for 10 hits and eight runs seven earned in 7 i innings. Wilt meanwhile flirted with the first no hitter in playoff history holding inc red sox Hiticas for 5% Manings before Wade Boggs Cal out an infield chopper for a single. Earlier in the inning Spike Owen walked with two mils breaking a string of 16 straight batters retired by Wilt following Kardoff walk to Hoggs in the first. When Boggs got his hit however Witt and inc an gels had the game in control and icy coasted the rest of the Way in the opener of inc nest of seven series. Game 2 was scheduled for wednesday afternoon m Boston s Fenway Park. Clemens the most dominant Pitcher in baseball this season with a 24-4 record including a 3-d Mark against the Angels came out throwing hard with fastballs exceeding 95 Mph. He escaped a iwo on two out Jam in inc first by retiring Doug dec incas on a drive 10 the Center Field Wall and opened the second by easily strik ing out Rob Wilfong and Dick Schof told. But then Clemens averaging just Over iwo walks per game this season suddenly ran into trouble. He walked Bob Boone on a 3-1 pitch and narrowly missed on a full count delivery to Gary Pettis. Ruppert Jones followed with a line drive single up the Middle. Rookie Wally Joyner who had doubled in the first then sliced an rib double into the left held Clemens offers no excuses Brian Downing drives in 4 runs for i i Angel. File Comer that made it 2-0. After Clemens threw Ball one to Brian Downing red six pitching coach Bill Fischer walked hurriedly to the Mound to talk with his struggling Ace. As soon As Witt excited like never before by the associated press Boston Mike Witt of the California Angels said tuesday night he was cd filed like i never was before after flirting with a no Hiuer for Svi innings and finishing with a five hitter in an go Victory Over the Boston red sox. I was very excited the 6-Fooi-7 right hander said Alicr giving the Angels an opening game Victory in the Besl of seven american league playoffs. "1 was actually ready to pitch yesterday. I did t feel comfortable in inc first inning but in the nun inning i fell into a Groove. When we Gol those four runs in the second in made my Job easier. I think Hose runs calmed me Down but they hit a lot of balls hard. I did t skate through the  after losing two close games during the regular sea son in Boston Witt had a wide Edge in the opener on Boston s Roger Clemens who led the american league with 24 victories and a 2.48 Era. Clemens who allowed 10 hits and eight runs had no excuses for his worst Outing of the year and blamed unusual control trouble for his problems. I did t fee my control was that far off and i made some Good pitches Clemens said. But you can i walk people. Walks will always Hurt you. I had a pretty live fastball but i got behind and i had to come in. I Felt Strong. I had Good stuff but they hit them where we weren t. Talking about his pitching mechanics Clemens said Early on. 1 might Bave been jumping at Richie catch or gedman too much. However i was doing things i wanted. I had Good stuff coming out of the bullpen. Gedman said Clemens never developed his rhythm. Maybe he was a Little anxious. He never got in the right direction. He was t that far off but he did. I make the pitches he had to said Boston coach Bill Fischer we think Roger was just Rushing his pitches a Little bit. He Gol two strikes on a lot of batters who Gol on base. California manager Gene Mauch said that Witt on the other hand muted up Bis pitches very Well. Bat he Aid pitch three or four games in August stronger than this. That s the Way we expect him to pitch Mauch Mike Witt Roger Clemens added. He does t always win but he is  asked about Clemens Mauch said we Beal his hard stuff. H is curve was not  As a former Catcher outfielder Brian Downing of the California Angels knows pitching and he s already conceded the by Young award to Clemens ii is Nice to get Itie first one out of the Way and get some runs Early off the by Young Pitcher. I think a lot of the fans think that he is invincible and normally he is said Downing who capped the second inning outburst with a two run single and then drove in two More runs with a single off reliever Bob Stanley in the eighth. But we got a lot of timely walks and two out  i m human i gave my Best Effort said Clemens who refused to use a sore Elbow bruised when hit by a line drive a week ago As an excuse asked if he May Bave been squeezed by plate Umpire Larry Barnett l Call of close pitches Clemens said no comment. I have to pitch  the visit was Over and Sammy Stewart began warming up Downing lined a two run single into the left held Corner. By the Lime Clemens finished striking out Reggie Jackson he had thrown 4s pitches in the second and had been rocked for four runs in an inning for Only the second Lime this season. While the crowd of 32,993 sat in stunned silence the Angels scored again in the third. Shortstop Owen made a High throw for an error on Wilfong s one Oul grounder and singles by bronc and Perlis increased the Lead to 5-0. Fottis had been o-for-9 against Clemens until the hit. Witt Given a big Cushion breezed through a Boston batting order that had Only a collective .178 average Aga Irist him in his career. The 6-fool-7 right hander was is-10 this season yet was Only 1-2 again the red sox despite a 2,66 Era against them. Following will s walk to Owen in tin. Sixth. Boggs followed with Boson s first hit a High chopper thai dec incas fielded in front of third that my him without a play. Boggs who Sai out the final four games of the season with a right hamstring injury ran hard the whole Way and was limping noticeably after crossing first base. Marty Barrett then lined a single to right that drove Home Owen with what turned out to be Boston s Only run. Will ended the inning by getting Bill buc Nerona Fly Ball and went on to close out the red sox. He finished with two walks and three strikeouts. Clemens had settled Down in the Middle innings and retired 13 of 14 batters before the Angels knocked him out in the eighth. Consecutive one out singles by Scho Field bronc and Perlis made it 6-1 and Clemens walked off the Field to a standing ovation having thrown 143 pitches. He struck out five and walked three. Joe Sambito relieved Clemens and walked Joyner with two outs loading the bases. Bob Stanley look Over for Sabilo and Downing delivered another two run single that capped California s rout. Inside look american league playoffs game 1 analysis from press dispatches Prati ure Point Relief efficiency Boston relievers inherited three runners and two scored. Cali fornia used no relievers. Advancing runners because the Angels led 5-0 after three innings neither team loosed to bunt or Advance runners with ground balls. Extra outs the red son handed the Angels an extra out in the third an an error and that runner eventually scored runner on third neither team placed a runner on third with less than two out but three Angels scored from third with two out. Lead off efficiency each team put the Lead off baiter on once and did not score. Acc olm and blame Roger Clemens tuesday s loss was his first defeat since aug. 4. Clemens had been 14-1 in games he pitched following a red sox toss. Boston lost its final four games of the regu Lar season Mike Witt his set no hit innings came within three puts of the longest no hit bid in league playoff history. The longest no hit Effort during an a i. Playoff game was 6? innings when Baltimore s Mike Cuellar and Ross Grimsley combined to do it against Oakland in 1974. Brian Downing California s left fielder had driven Home just one run in nine previous american league playoff games before knocking in four in game i. Wally Joy next the Angels Rookie first baseman opened his first postseason with a clutch performance going 2 for 4 with a pair of double an rib and a run scored he also broke tie ice by getting the first hit of Tiemens