Clement, carted off the field on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to nearby Bayfront Medical Center, was ''alert, aware, and responsive," according to his agent, Barry Axelrod, who spoke twice on the phone with Sox general manager Theo Epstein in Boston in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
''Theo said he seemed aware, knew where he was, knew what had happened to him," said Axelrod, who is based in San Diego and was watching on television when the play occurred.
Clement spoke to his wife, Heather, who was back in Boston watching on television with their 4-year-old son, Mattix, according to Axelrod.
''He was kind of joking with her," Axelrod said. ''She said, 'All your runs scored.' He said, 'That figures.' He was worried about that.
''Mattix was sitting there watching on TV and saying, 'Daddy, c'mon. Daddy, c'mon.' Heather said it was all she could do to hold it together."
Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who returned to the clubhouse during the 11-minute stoppage in play to call Clement's wife and offer some words of reassurance, said he planned to go to the hospital as soon as he'd showered and dressed.
''It looks like he's OK," he said. ''The tests all came back OK. They're keeping him overnight, but hopefully everything will be OK and he'll go home with us."
The Sox are scheduled to return to Boston tonight after the game.
Clement was struck by a line drive hit by Devil Rays left fielder Carl Crawford in what appeared to be the area behind the right ear with one out in the third inning. The ball struck Clement with such force that it caromed into short left field, where it was retrieved by Manny Ramirez. Tampa Bay's Alex Gonzalez, who was on third base, scored on the play.
Clement covered his ear with both hands and lay motionless on his left side while medical personnel from both teams rushed to his aid, and the crowd fell silent.
