The Boston ace Matt Clement was felled in the third inning against Tampa last night, but manages to pull out a scintillating win on Johnny Damon's heroics.

03:53 PM EDT on Wednesday, July 27, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Red Sox pitching ace Matt Clement was released from a Florida hospital this afternoon, the day after he was struck in the head by a line drive off the bat of a Tampa Bay player.

Clement, 30, was kept at the hospital overnight, where he underwent further tests and observation this morning, according to the Sox' medical director, Dr. Thomas Gill.

"The results of a second CT scan taken this morning were also negative, and Matt was released from the hospital this afternoon," Gill said in a statement. "Matt will accompany the team back to Boston tonight and be evaluated by our medical staff upon his return."

Last night, the lightning-bolt crack of the bat, followed a nanosecond later by the frightening and stomach-turning noise made by the baseball slamming up against the right side of Clement's skull rendered the rest of the game almost meaningless on the human level.

Obviously, Boston and Tampa Bay had to complete the game, and they did, with the Red Sox pulling out a wild 10-9, 10-inning victory in a game that had comebacks and turnarounds galore.

But the image that stuck with anyone at Tropicana Field was of the sizzling liner hit by the Devil Rays' Carl Crawford that crashed against Clement's head with one out in the third inning, knocking the Red Sox pitcher to the dirt at the front of the pitcher's mound.

The air seemed to be sucked out of the stadium, with people gasping in horror, struck silent by what transpired as teammates and medical personnel rushed to the mound to attend to the felled pitcher, who remained motionless.

Clement never even had time to get his glove up, or turn his body out of the way to avoid the bullet. His follow-through carried him a bit toward first-base, so the right side of his head was exposed to the fast-moving line drive.

Clement was hit around the right ear. He was alert and conscious when he was taken off the field on a stretcher with a collar around his neck to immobilize his head. He was taken to the nearby Bayfront Medical Center.

"The crack of the bat was loud. The crack of the ball hitting his head was just as loud," said plate umpire Mike Reilly.

By the time Clement was on his way to the hospital, manager Terry Francona was concerned, but a bit reassured, as well.

"I was very relieved that he was coherent. He seemed to be aware of his surroundings," said Francona, who relayed that information to Clement's wife, Heather, via a phone call during the break in the action.

"One second you're wanting to get an out, to the next second not caring about the out but just thinking about your guy," he said.

Trainer Jim Rowe accompanied Clement to the hospital. Clement's condition was being monitored from Boston by Gill.

"I have spoken with Matt and his doctors in Florida. Matt, himself, never lost consciousness and is in good spirits. The results of the CAT scan are negative. He appears to be doing well but will stay in the hospital overnight for precautionary purposes and will be re-evaluated in the morning," Gill said last night in a statement.

AP photo

Matt Clement lies motionless after being struck near the right ear by a sizzling line drive off the bat of Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford in the third inning last night. Clement was taken off on a stretcher to a hospital and was reportedly alert and in good spirits.

The scene last night was eerily reminiscent to an incident on Sept. 8, 2000, when the Sox' Bryce Florie was struck under the right eye by a line drive hit by the New York Yankees' Ryan Thompson at Fenway Park.

Last night, Rowe and Chang-Ho Lee were the first to get to Clement, followed quickly by Francona. And as the Red Sox gathered around their fallen teammate, members of the Devil Rays' medical team arrived and gave their assistance, which was praised by Francona, while Devil Rays Alex Gonzalez and Julio Lugo stood on the fringe of the scene.

Crawford stood off first base, peering intently toward the mound, along with teammate Joey Gathright and first-base coach Billy Hatcher.

"You never want to see anyone in that kind of situation," said Crawford.

"I was just praying for him," said Boston shortstop Edgar Renteria.

"He never blacked out. It was a great sight that he was talking and knew where he was. There was no blood. None. We thought about it the whole game. He's our ace. For him to go down in that type of fashion shakes everyone -- both teams, the fans . . .," said Johnny Damon, who followed up a game-saving catch in the bottom of the ninth with a first-pitch homer in the 10th that sparked a game-winning, two-run surge.

And while the Sox' immediate thoughts were for Clement's health and well being, practical concerns relative to the roster may have to be dealt with as well, though it was too soon to know how long Clement (10-3) will be out.

At the time of Crawford's fateful liner, which careened off Clement and dropped into shallow left field for a run-producing single, the Rays' had runners at first and third with one out, but Boston owned a 5-0 lead.

The pitching-thin Red Sox can hardly afford to lose a quality starting pitcher, but now they must look at their options to replace Clement in the rotation, especially if he's out for more than a start or two. Maybe they'll be forced to make a stronger push for a starting pitcher, without losing one ( Bronson Arroyo) in return before the non-waiver trading deadline on Sunday.

Another option might be to shift Curt Schilling from the bullpen back into the rotation, even if, as Francona had said on Monday, the veteran right-hander likely would be only a five- or six-inning pitcher given his conditioning following his stint on the disabled list because of right ankle problems. If that has to be done, Mike Timlin likely would have to be thrust into the closer's role.

The Red Sox also have some kids in the minors -- Jon Papelbon, Anibel Sanchez and Jon Lester -- to whom they could turn, albeit sooner than they might like.

-- With projo.com reports