Power vs Power today at Wrigley Field.....
Roger Clemens 10-2 vs Matt Clement 7-6
Sosa 12-HR 29-RBI .278-Avg
Houston starter Roger Clemens got over a slight road bump in his remarkable season his last time out. But he'll have to get past one of the National League's best young pithcers if he hopes to keep that momentum going.
Clemens looks to become the majors' first 11-game winner as the Astros face Matt Clement and the Chicago Cubs in the second game of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.
Clemens allowed just two runs and four hits in seven innings of Thursday's 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, snapping a two-start losing streak. The win was the 320th for Clemens, who became the first 10-game winner in baseball.
``Those first nine wins weren't as easy as they looked to some people,'' Clemens said. ``Tonight wasn't easy, either. It's a long road, and sometimes you just try to stay the course.''
San Francisco's Jason Schmidt, Boston's Curt Schilling, Philadelphia's Eric Milton and Texas' Kenny Rogers, who faces Seattle on Wednesday night, have since won their 10th game.
The 41-year-old Clemens allowed 10 runs and 19 hits in 10 2-3 innings during his brief losing streak, which included a 7-2 loss to the Cubs on June 14.
``My energy was down, and that's one thing I've got to continue to focus on,'' Clemens said. ``Everybody I face is going to come after me.''
Clement lost his second straight start Thursday, allowing four runs, one earned, and seven hits in six innings of a 4-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The 29-year-old is 0-2 in his last three starts despite posting a 1.80 ERA over that span.
``I thought I threw pretty well,'' Clement said. ``The hit by (St. Louis starter Chris) Carpenter hurt me. They hit the ball in unfortunate places.''
Clement, who won 14 games and posted a 4.11 ERA last season, has not won since June 8 and has lost five of his last seven decisions after starting the season 5-1.
Clement and Clemens have already faced each other once this season in a 5-1 Houston win on June 2. Clemens allowed just one earned run and five hits in seven innings for his eighth win of the season, while Clement gave up a season high-matching four earned runs and a season-worst 11 hits and was charged with the loss.
The Cubs beat the Astros 7-5 Tuesday for just their second win in seven games. Houston's Craig Biggio dropped Moises Alou's flyball in the seventh innings, allowing Chicago's final two runs to score.
Corey Patterson homered, doubled and drove in three runs for the Cubs, who also got a homer and a double from Aramis Ramirez.
Carlos Beltran hit his first homer since being traded to the Astros on Thursday, and Jeff Kent went 2-for-2 with an RBI before leaving the game with a strained hamstring.
Roger Clemens 10-2 vs Matt Clement 7-6
Sosa 12-HR 29-RBI .278-Avg
Houston starter Roger Clemens got over a slight road bump in his remarkable season his last time out. But he'll have to get past one of the National League's best young pithcers if he hopes to keep that momentum going.
Clemens looks to become the majors' first 11-game winner as the Astros face Matt Clement and the Chicago Cubs in the second game of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.
Clemens allowed just two runs and four hits in seven innings of Thursday's 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, snapping a two-start losing streak. The win was the 320th for Clemens, who became the first 10-game winner in baseball.
``Those first nine wins weren't as easy as they looked to some people,'' Clemens said. ``Tonight wasn't easy, either. It's a long road, and sometimes you just try to stay the course.''
San Francisco's Jason Schmidt, Boston's Curt Schilling, Philadelphia's Eric Milton and Texas' Kenny Rogers, who faces Seattle on Wednesday night, have since won their 10th game.
The 41-year-old Clemens allowed 10 runs and 19 hits in 10 2-3 innings during his brief losing streak, which included a 7-2 loss to the Cubs on June 14.
``My energy was down, and that's one thing I've got to continue to focus on,'' Clemens said. ``Everybody I face is going to come after me.''
Clement lost his second straight start Thursday, allowing four runs, one earned, and seven hits in six innings of a 4-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The 29-year-old is 0-2 in his last three starts despite posting a 1.80 ERA over that span.
``I thought I threw pretty well,'' Clement said. ``The hit by (St. Louis starter Chris) Carpenter hurt me. They hit the ball in unfortunate places.''
Clement, who won 14 games and posted a 4.11 ERA last season, has not won since June 8 and has lost five of his last seven decisions after starting the season 5-1.
Clement and Clemens have already faced each other once this season in a 5-1 Houston win on June 2. Clemens allowed just one earned run and five hits in seven innings for his eighth win of the season, while Clement gave up a season high-matching four earned runs and a season-worst 11 hits and was charged with the loss.
The Cubs beat the Astros 7-5 Tuesday for just their second win in seven games. Houston's Craig Biggio dropped Moises Alou's flyball in the seventh innings, allowing Chicago's final two runs to score.
Corey Patterson homered, doubled and drove in three runs for the Cubs, who also got a homer and a double from Aramis Ramirez.
Carlos Beltran hit his first homer since being traded to the Astros on Thursday, and Jeff Kent went 2-for-2 with an RBI before leaving the game with a strained hamstring.
