APRIL 29, 1990

Simply put, it was a case of a great pitcher having his greatest night.

Thirteen years ago tonight, Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox struck out 20 Seattle Mariners in a game he might have lost had it not been for teammate Dwight Evans.

Clemens had 12 strikeouts after five innings, 16 after seven, but was in danger of losing. The Red Sox trailed, 1-0.

Then Evans hit a three-run home run to center off Mike Moore in the bottom of the seventh to save Clemens’ masterful performance.

When the Rocket struck out Ivan Calderon and Dave Henderson in the eighth, he tied the Red Sox record of 18, set in 1961 by Bill Monbouquette.

He tied the major league record for a nine-inning game by striking out Spike Owen, leading off the ninth. Then, with the crowd of 13,414 on its feet, he got Phil Bradley on a called third strike.

In an instant, Clemens was all alone at 20, having passed the likes of Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton (19); and Sandy Koufax and Bob Feller (18).

Clemens’ fastballs were clocked at 97 mph. He went to three-ball counts six times, but none after the sixth inning. He gave up three hits and no walks, and not one batter argued a strike call.

“He was just throwing unhittables,” said his catcher, Rich Gedman.

Ten years later, Clemens struck out 20 again in a nine-inning game, and Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs matched that performance in 1998.

Also on this date: In 1967, the San Francisco 49ers signed their top draft pick, Heisman Trophy winner Steve Spurrier, to a multiyear contract worth $250,000. . . . In 1955, California Gov. Goodwin Knight signed legislation authorizing construction of the Sports Arena in Exposition Park, but political difficulties delayed construction for three years. . . . In 1974, American Basketball Assn. representatives met with Sam Gilbert, advisor to UCLA All-American Bill Walton, and told him Walton could play for an ABA team in Los Angeles if he would sign with the league. . . . In 1963, NBA clubs, fearing recently retired Celtic Bob Cousy would build a “farm club” for the Celtics when he began his coaching job at Boston College, voted to abolish the territorial draft.