09:39 AM EDT on Monday, June 20, 2005

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Matt Clement leads all Red Sox starters in wins (eight), starts (15), E.R.A. (3.48), innings pitched (95 2/3) and strikeouts (78). Soon, there's a good chance he'll be the leader in All-Star game selections, too.

AP photo

Red Sox starter Matt Clement turned in another sterling effort yesterday, limiting the Pirates to just three hits and one walk in seven shutout innings. He also racked up nine strikeouts.

Clement, who tossed seven shutout innings yesterday as the Sox dusted the Pittsburgh Pirates, seems certain to be selected to the American League squad. Going into yesterday, only three A.L. pitchers had more wins (Jon Garland, Roy Halladay, Kenny Rogers ) and his winning percentage is tied with Mark Buehrle for second-best in the league.

He's also among the league leaders in strikeouts, games started, innings pitched and batting average against.

"If it turns out I earn a spot on the team, obviously it will be a big honor," Clement said. "But I've still got a lot of work to do. Rather than worry about the first week of July (when the staff is determined), I'm going to be thinking about (his next start in) Philadelphia on Saturday."

Clement allowed just three hits while striking out nine and walking just one. It marked the second straight game in which he fanned nine. Clement credited an improved slider.

"At the beginning of the season, it was real inconsistent," he said. "Maybe it was a blessing in disguise because it made me use my fastball. And now that I have my slider, it's making the fastball better and making things sometimes a little easier than it was in the past. . . . It's a lot more fun pitching when you have that pitch."

Closing on Hansen

The Red Sox have only held preliminary talks with agent Scott Boras on a deal for St. John's righthander Craig Hansen, but are pleased with the direction of the early negotiations.

In the days leading up to the draft, the Florida Marlins, with the 22nd overall pick, floated an offer of $2.8 million and an immediate major league callup, which Hansen suggested was insufficient. The Marlins then chose a high school pitcher from Houston, leaving Hansen to fall to the Red Sox at No. 26.

The Sox now know it will take somewhere in the neighborhood of $3 million and a major-league contact to land Hansen. The club has never offered a major-league deal to a draft pick, but understands one will probably be necessary to get the power reliever signed.

Embree rights himself

Embattled reliever Matt Embree notched a personal milestone yesterday, notching his 500th career strikeout. But of more signficance was a strong outing that saw him pitch two scoreless innings and record three strikeouts in relief of Clement.

Embree believes he may have unconvered a mechanical flaw in his delivery, which may lead to improved outings like yesterday.

"My hands were setting lower than they normally do," said Embree. "I was ahead of hitters, but I wasn't able to put them away because I throw a strike for strike three rather than a quality pitch."

Embree yielded a one-out triple to Jack Wilson in the eighth, but came back to fan Mike Restovich and get Tike Redman on a comebacker to get out of the jam.

"That was a huge confidence boost," Embree said, "with a runner on third and one out, to be able to get out of that. I felt really good. Something clicked."

Kapler wants out of Japan

Outfielder Gabe Kapler, who opted to go to Japan as a free agent, is attempting to work his way out of his $2.5 million deal with the Yomiuri Giants and return to the U.S and resume his playing career.

A source familiar with the deal said Kapler may be hard-pressed to extricated himself. If he were to become a free agent, the Sox would have definite interest in re-signing him, but the club won't assist Kapler financially to win his freedom.

Meanwhile, while interest in Jay Payton has been tepid, that could change if he continues to hit the way he did in the last week. Payton, who had two doubles Saturday night and followed that with an impressive two-run homer over everything yesterday is 8-for-15 (.533) with two homers over his last five starts.

The healing game

Manny Ramirez sat out yesterday after being drilled in the lower left leg Saturday night, with Kevin Millar taking over in left. Ramirez will probably be available tonight when the Sox open a trip in Cleveland.

Johnny Damon also was held out by manager Terry Francona. Damon's shoulder, which he jammed making a spectacular diving catch two weeks ago to rob the Angels' Orlando Cabrera, has been bothering him of late and Francona thought he would benefit from the rest.

Around the horn

David Ortiz' third-inning triple was his first since July 22 against Baltimore, when he collected two . . . The six hits in the third inning matched the Sox' season high . . . In eight starts during the day, Clement sports a 2.45 E.R.A.