Grand opening, then slammed

Such a decision might have been wise, for in Clement's season-plus here in Boston he's labored mightily when the Jays show up. Last night's 8-6 loss underscored a rather unsettling theme made painfully obvious to the largest crowd at Fenway Park (36,524) in 60 years.

Clement, in 27 starts for the Sox vs. United States-based teams: 14-4, 4.11 ERA.

Clement, in five starts vs. Toronto: 0-3, 9.45 ERA (28 runs on 36 hits in 26 2/3 innings).

Why the marked division?

''If I had [an answer] to this point I wouldn't be sitting here with a loss tonight," Clement said. ''I have to go to the drawing board."

Toronto tagged Clement for eight hits last night, six of them singles, but they were not, as they must be, scattered. Five of the eight hits came in the second inning, as the Jays batted around. Eric Hinske singled. Greg Zaun doubled to the base of the Wall, plating Hinske. Alex Rios singled. Clement managed an out, when No. 9 hitter Aaron Hill grounded into a fielder's choice, with Zaun caught in a rundown. But then the procession continued.

Russ Adams singled, scoring Rios. And then Frank Catalanotto, who ran up a 1.022 OPS against the Sox last year (16 hits, 10 extra-base hits, 12 RBIs) walked, reaching base for the second of what would be four times on the night, loading the bases.

And up came Vernon Wells. Clement hadn't given up a grand slam since 2000, the year he led the majors in walks and wild pitches, ranked second in hit batsmen, and gave up four slams. He'd cleaned things up since. But, on a 1-and-1 count, Clement left a cut fastball over the inner half that Wells crushed to center. It did not come down until it had cleared Dustan Mohr, the center-field wall, and the camera stand, crashing off the retaining wall.

''Cutter away," Clement said, when asked about the intended pitch type and location. ''I left it up and over the plate. Probably didn't get enough action at the end of it to save me."