Unanimous: Clemens Cops Cy Young

NEW YORK--Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox, the top winner in the major leagues this year with 24 victories, was unanimously elected the American League's Cy Young award winner, it was announced yesterday.

Clemens, who received 140 points in balloting by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, was named first on all 28 ballots cast. Ted Higuera of Milwaukee was second with 42 points and Mike Witt of California finished third with 35.

Only two other AL pitchers have won the award unanimously: Denny McLain of the Tigers in 1968 and Ron Guidry of the Yankees in 1978.

Clemens was 24-4 this season with a 2.48 earned run average, tops in the American League. He won his first 14 decisions of the year.

He allowed only 179 hits in 254 innings and was edged out for the strikeout lead in the final week by Seattle's Mark Langston, 245-238.

Clemens put his name in the record book with a remarkable strikeout performance, fanning 20 batters in a game at Fenway Park April 29 against the Seattle Mariners.

He was the first pitcher ever to do strike out 20 in a nine-inning game, and he did so in only his 40th major league peformance.