Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis grimaces as he’s hit by a pitch in the sixth inning. Jason Varitek followed with a two-run homer that gave Boston a 4-3 lead.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

BOSTON — Pitcher Matt Clement said yesterday he would like to record one out that’s meaningful for the Boston Red Sox this season.

The veteran right-hander has missed the entire 2007 season after having undergone arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder almost a year ago. His rehab has been slow, but yesterday he took another stop closer to returning to a major-league mound.

Clement threw a 20-pitch simulated game against live hitters — Brandon Moss and Kevin Cash — at Fenway Park, where he was able to work on his fastball, slider and sinker but did not attempt to throw his changeup. Prior to the live BP session, he said he threw 35 pitches in the bullpen, plus eight warmup pitches before the simulated game. It’s the most he’s thrown since before the surgery.

“I think you could tell by the look on his face he was excited and somewhat nervous,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “It may look like small steps to us, but to him I’m sure it was a huge step facing hitters.”

Clement is scheduled to throw another bullpen session this weekend, while the team is in Baltimore, before his next simulated session early next week. He reported yesterday that everything is going well.

“I’m almost shocked at how good I felt,” he said. “The results were good. My biggest worry in this whole process, other than getting through it, was how I will feel after, like tomorrow. The signs are good right now. I usually can tell right away. It couldn’t have gone better. It went about as well as I could have ever dreamed.”

The support he received from his fellow pitchers was encouraging.

The majority of the staff, led by Josh Beckett and Mike Timlin, stood around the batting cage to watch the session, and when it was over they acted as if he had just pitched a shutout.

“That meant a whole bunch,” said Clement. “A lot of those guys know what the last 15 months have been like for me. To be in the middle of a pennant race and to go out there 20 minutes before they had to go out there just to watch me throw . . . they care about my well-being, and that means a lot to me.”

Clement signed a three-year deal worth $25.5 million with the Red Sox as a free agent on Dec. 22, 2004, and posted a 13-6 record with a 4.57 ERA during his first season. He struggled last season, going 5-5 with a 6.61 ERA in 12 starts. He finally shut it down last September, and had the procedure on his shoulder on Sept. 26.

Whether Clement is back with the Red Sox next season remains to be seen. His contract is up and Boston’s starting rotation is full.

“I plan on being a starting pitcher next year,” he said. “I don’t know what the future holds, but everything is positive.”

Gagne progressing

Reliever Eric Gagne continues to battle tendinitis in his right shoulder. He threw off flat ground yesterday, mixing in some long toss, and said he spun off a couple of curveballs. He’s scheduled to throw a 30-pitch bullpen session today.

“It’s good,” he said. “It’s getting better, and every day it’s getting stronger and stronger.”

The Red Sox aren’t about to rush him, but Gagne wants to return as soon as possible.

“I don’t know how to go slow,” he joked. “That’s kind of hard, but we’re winning ballgames, so that makes it a lot easier.”

Manny still sidelined

As the Red Sox headed to Baltimore last night, Manny Ramirez did not join them. Francona reported yesterday that Ramirez still is not able to play because of the strained left oblique, which has kept him sidelined for the last seven days.

“The medical people will give us clearance,” Francona said. “He’ll stay back from Baltimore with Scott Waugh (the team’s rehabilitation coordinator) because he’s just not ready to do the baseball stuff.”

Good-luck charm?

Clay Buchholz has received a ton of attention since the rookie tossed a no-hitter for the Red Sox last Saturday against the Orioles at Fenway Park. It was only a couple of weeks ago that Buchholz, with the PawSox at the time, met tennis legend Jim Courier, who was at McCoy Stadium to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Buchholz caught the former No. 1-ranked star’s pitch, and Courier joked afterward that he turned pro before Buchholz was born.

Courier has been working as a broadcaster for the U.S. Open in New York, and when he was informed of the no-hitter he was very happy.

“Since I found out about Clay’s no-hitter, following my appearance in Pawtucket, I’ve been expecting a message at my office from (Yankees general manager) Brian Cashman,” said Courier, “asking if I could drop by their Triple-A team to throw out a first pitch or two.”

pkenyon@projo.com