Roger Clemens tries to become the first nine-game winner in the majors this evening when the Houston Astros play the middle contest of their three-game interleague affair with the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.
After winning his first seven starts of the year, Clemens went three consecutive contests without a decision before beating the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. In that contest, Clemens allowed a run on five hits over seven innings. He also struck out five and walked two.
Clemens has held opponents to fewer than two runs in eight of his 11 starts this season and is tied for the Major League lead with a 2.27 ERA.
The six-time Cy Young Award winner, who started the 1986 season at 14-0 while with the Boston Red Sox, is two wins away from the Astros' franchise record to start a season (Juan Agosto, 10-0, 1988). Also, his eight wins to start his career in an Astros' uniform is a club-record.
Clemens has also won his last 12 regular season decisions dating back to last year. The 41-year-old righthander hasn't lost since September 6 against Boston and a win today would be Clemens' 319th of his career, moving him past Phil Niekro for sole possession of 14th place on the all-time list.
The Rocket has dominated the Mariners over the course of his brilliant Hall of Fame career and has 22 wins against them, the most of any pitcher.
In the series-opener on Monday, Clint Nageotte earned his first major league win, tossing six scoreless innings to lead Seattle to a 5-0 win.
Jeff Kent extended his hitting streak to 22 games in the loss, ending 1-for-4 for Houston, which has lost three of four. Kent's hit streak ties Carlos Lee of the White Sox for the longest in the majors this season. Lee's streak is also active.
Kent's streak is the Astros' longest since Moises Alou hit in 23 straight in 2001 and three shy of Tony Eusebio's 2000 team record.
The Astros are 15-13 away from home this season.
Houston is 57-48 all-time in interleague play.
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After winning his first seven starts of the year, Clemens went three consecutive contests without a decision before beating the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. In that contest, Clemens allowed a run on five hits over seven innings. He also struck out five and walked two.
Clemens has held opponents to fewer than two runs in eight of his 11 starts this season and is tied for the Major League lead with a 2.27 ERA.
The six-time Cy Young Award winner, who started the 1986 season at 14-0 while with the Boston Red Sox, is two wins away from the Astros' franchise record to start a season (Juan Agosto, 10-0, 1988). Also, his eight wins to start his career in an Astros' uniform is a club-record.
Clemens has also won his last 12 regular season decisions dating back to last year. The 41-year-old righthander hasn't lost since September 6 against Boston and a win today would be Clemens' 319th of his career, moving him past Phil Niekro for sole possession of 14th place on the all-time list.
The Rocket has dominated the Mariners over the course of his brilliant Hall of Fame career and has 22 wins against them, the most of any pitcher.
In the series-opener on Monday, Clint Nageotte earned his first major league win, tossing six scoreless innings to lead Seattle to a 5-0 win.
Jeff Kent extended his hitting streak to 22 games in the loss, ending 1-for-4 for Houston, which has lost three of four. Kent's hit streak ties Carlos Lee of the White Sox for the longest in the majors this season. Lee's streak is also active.
Kent's streak is the Astros' longest since Moises Alou hit in 23 straight in 2001 and three shy of Tony Eusebio's 2000 team record.
The Astros are 15-13 away from home this season.
Houston is 57-48 all-time in interleague play.
web page
