|
|
In a matchup of old guys, Roger Clemens tied another of baseball's Hall of Famers.
Clemens got his 314th win to pull even with Gaylord Perry for 15th place on the career list, leading the Houston Astros over the Colorado Rockies 8-5 Saturday.
``It is pretty gratifying when you guys write my name alongside some of the greats that have come through here and played in the past,'' Clemens said. ``It makes me feel proud, and a lot of those guys I watched and learned about my first couple of years in the league.''
Clemens, who received an ovation when he went to the mound in the first inning and when he left in the sixth, was opposed by Jeff Fassero, who also is 41. It was the first time two starters 41 or older faced each other since California's Don Sutton (42) pitched against the New York Yankees' Tommy John (44) on Aug. 24, 1987, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
``Guys have played at this age before and had success at it,'' Clemens said. ``My body takes a little longer to recover and bounce back than I would like.''
Clemens improved to 4-0 for the second straight season, striking out seven in 5 2-3 innings to raise his career total to 4,125, third behind Nolan Ryan (5,714) and Steve Carlton (4,136). The six-time Cy Young Award winner allowed five runs and nine hits -- including homers by Todd Helton, Charles Johnson and Matt Holliday -- and also had a two-run single.
ADVERTISEMENT
``We all have to realize Roger is 41-years old and doesn't act his age,'' Houston
manager Jimy Williams said. ``The man trains extremely hard and conditions himself.
He is an outstanding specimen and expects a lot of himself.''
Playing in the National League for the first time this season, Clemens is hitting .333 (3-for-9) with three RBIs.
Dan Miceli followed Clemens with 2 1-3 shutout innings, and Octavio Dotel got three straight outs for his second save, ending the game by striking out Helton and Jeromy Burnitz.
Richard Hidalgo drove three runs for Houston, which won its sixth straight road game. Lance Berkman homered, helping the Astros improve to 7-1 on the road -- they are just 4-6 at home.
Fassero (0-1), making his first start since last Aug. 19, gave up seven runs and seven hits in three innings.
``We pitched out of the bullpen and we continued to grind on offense,'' Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. ``Unfortunately, our starting pitching is digging way too big of a hole for us to overcome.''
Adam Everett's RBI double and Hidalgo's sacrifice fly gave Clemens a 2-0 lead before he threw a pitch.
AP - Apr 24, 6:55 pm EDT
More Photos
Colorado got an unearned run in the second inning when shortstop Adam Everett
booted Denny Hocking's two-out grounder for an error that allowed Kit Pellow
to score.
Two-run singles by Hidalgo and Clemens around Jose Vizcaino's single boosted Houston's lead to 7-1 in the third.
``With somebody in scoring position, you are trying to make contact,'' Clemens said.
Helton and Johnson hit solo homers in the third, and Holliday had a two-run homer in the sixth that cut the lead to 7-5. Miceli relieved with two on and Royce Clayton's bunt single loaded the bases before Helton flied out.
Berkman homered in the seventh off Steve Reed.
Notes
: LHP Andy Pettitte arrived in Denver from his extended spring outing in Kissimmee,
Fla. ... With a start at second base, Denny Hocking played his third position
this year. ... The Rockies gave 3B Vinny Castilla his first day offthis the
season.