MINNEAPOLIS — Pain forced Boston pitcher and Butler native Matt Clement to leave Wednesday's game with the Minnesota after 4X\c innings, but not before he was tabbed with loss in the Twins' 8-1 win over the Red Sox

Boston manager Terry Francona said Clement was experiencing pain in his right shoulder and biceps in the fifth inning, when he was pulled with two outs. Clement is scheduled to return to Boston on this morning to be examined by the team's medical staff.

"Hopefully, it's just fatigue," Francona said, "but we have to find out."

Clement, whose ERA actually dropped slightly to 6.61, had the same feeling in his last start — which was 10 days ago. He has had three layoffs of one week or more this year.

"I felt good playing catch in the days before, but it's different when you've got big league hitters in the batter's box," Clement said.

An All-Star last year whose season soured after the break, Clement has posted quality starts of six innings or more and three runs or less in only four of 12 outings, none consecutive.

Clement — who signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract before the 2005 season — tied a season high with six walks. Without a strikeout, he allowed three runs, five hits and hit a batter.