Clement injures thumb in Tuesday's duel

Tangle in netting forces catcher to leave in the second SEATTLE -- Mariners catcher Jeff Clement sustained a thumb injury while trying to catch a foul popup in the second inning of Tuesday night's game against the Red Sox and had to leave the game after batting in the bottom of the inning. The rookie receiver got his thumb caught in the netting behind home plate, apparently tearing the nail. He was attended to by Mariners head athletic trainer Rick Griffin, who wrapped the thumb in tape, and Clement remained in the game. He came to bat with two outs and no one on in the second inning and struck out. Kenji Johjima was behind the plate to start the third inning. It has been a rough rookie season for the Mariners' first-round Draft choice in 2005. He went into Tuesday night's game with a .172 batting average, five home runs and... [read full story]