NY Mets (17-20) at Houston (22-14) 2:05 pm EDT

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Another Day, Another Dollar
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HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Showing few signs of his age, Roger Clemens goes for his eighth straight win as the Houston Astros conclude a three-game series with the New York Mets Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

Clemens announced his retirement following the 2003 season with the New York Yankees. But when the Astros signed former teammate Andy Pettitte as a free agent during the offseason, Clemens was lured out of retirement.

In his first season in the National League, the 41-year-old righthander has continued to astound.

Clemens has won all seven of his starts and allowed more than one run just once. His start is the best by an Astros pitcher since Juan Agosto began the 1988 campaign 10-0.

Clemens, whose best start was 14-0 in 1986, has won 10 straight decisions dating to last season and is 66-20 since July 2, 2000. He enters Sunday's game with 317 victories, one shy of knuckleballer Phil Niekro for 14th place all-time.

The six-time Cy Young Award winner has a significant history against the Mets. In Game Two of the 2000 World Series, Clemens fielded Mike Piazza's broken bat on a foul ball and fired the piece of wood just past New York's catcher. That incident occurred after Clemens beaned Piazza during a regular season game at Yankee Stadium.

On Saturday, a pair of familiar faces helped Houston post a 7-4 victory and snap New York's three-game winning streak. Pettitte survived six rocky innings and former Met Jeff Kent had an RBI single and run-scoring double.

Jason Phillips drove in three runs for the Mets, who have won eight of their last 13 games.

Pitching matchup:

New York - Matt Ginter (NR); has not faced Houston in 2004.

Houston - Clemens (7-0, 1.99); has not faced New York in 2004.

Who's Hot:

New York - SS Kaz Matsui, 8-for-21 in last six games.

Houston - SS Adam Everett, 10-for-28 in last seven games.

Who's Not:

New York - RF Karim Garcia, 2-for-31 in last nine games.

Houston - RF Richard Hidalgo, 11-for-49 in last 12 games.

2004 Series: Tied, 1-1; All-time Series: Houston, 282-225.

Injuries:

New York - RHP Scott Erickson (left hamstring, 15-day DL); RHP Scott Strickland (right elbow surgery, 60-day DL); 2B Jose Reyes (right hamstring, 15-day DL); 1B Mo Vaughn (left knee, 60-day DL); IF Todd Zeile (right hamstring, day-to-day); LHP Al Leiter (left shoulder soreness, is expected to miss his next scheduled start).

Houston - RHP Chad Harville (strained right hamstring, 15-day DL); RHP Wade Miller (tightness in neck, day-to-day).



http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=240516118
 

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