HOUSTON - Welcome to Houston, home of the strikeout kings.

Roger Clemens moved into second place on the career strikeout list behind fellow Houston-area native Nolan Ryan, and became the first six-game winner in the major leagues in 2004, leading the Astros over Pittsburgh 6-2 Wednesday night.

Clemens struck out Raul Mondesi swinging in the fifth inning to pass Hall of Fame left-hander Steve Carlton with No. 4,137.

He finished the night with nine strikeouts to increase his career total to 4,140.

"I think what (Ryan) did was amazing," Clemens said. "Obviously, I won't make it that long. Right now, I'm mentally drained from the game I just had. It seems to get tougher and tougher."

Ryan, a native of nearby Alvin, tops the strikeout list with 5,714.

A crowd of 35,883 - the Astros' first home non-sellout with Clemens on the mound - gave Clemens a long standing ovation after he fired a 89 mph split-fingered pitch past Mondesi to move into second place.

Clemens (6-0) briefly acknowledged the cheers by tipping his cap to the fans.

"I can't tell you, as an athlete on center stage, what it's like to have that kind of help," he said.

Soon after, Clemens added No. 4,138 by getting Craig Wilson swinging at a similar pitch. He struck out two more batters in the sixth before leaving the game.

For Clemens, though, it's been quite a homecoming from a guy who ended his career - albeit for only 78 days - after the Yankees lost the World Series to the Florida Marlins last October.

"(Clemens) is one of those rare cats to pitch as long as he has and put up all those crooked numbers," Astros manager Jimy Williams said.

At 41-years-old, Clemens is pitching in his 21st season in the majors. He won his 316th career game, putting him only two behind Phil Niekro for 14th place. He gave up two runs on five hits.

He even added five more veterans to his growing list of strikeout victims - Jason Kendall, Rob Mackowiak, Craig Wilson, Carlos Rivera and Kip Wells.

Chili Davis leads the list with 30. Jose Canseco and Greg Vaughn are tied for second with 25. The Rocket has also struck out eight Hall of Famers, including Robin Yount, Paul Molitor and Carlton Fisk.

"You never struck me out," teammate Jeff Bagwell jokingly reminded Clemens after the game.

Fewer and fewer veterans are able to say that.

Kip Wells (2-4) dropped his third straight start, allowing five runs and eight hits in five innings. The right-hander from Houston - just like his boyhood idol, Clemens - struggled against the NL's top-hitting team.

"Obviously, the strikeout thing was a distraction to our guys," said Wells, who struck out three times. "They were not wanting to strike out. (Clemens) struck out nine in six innings and I don't think he would tell you that he pitched that great."

Maybe not, but Wednesday night capped quite a week of buildup for Clemens.

Clemens, selected NL pitcher of the month on Monday, slowly made his way into a postgame news conference, carrying a bag full of gifts.

He reached in the bag and gave a uniform and cap to Astros owner Drayton McClane, one of the game balls to his wife, Debbie, and a couple of caps to his two oldest sons, Koby and Kory.

"This is where I grew up," Clemens said, nearly breaking down in tears. "There were people in the park tonight who watched me in high school. I'm happy I got to get it in front of them."

Notes: Astros reliever Chad Harville left the game with a strained right hamstring after facing only one batter in the seventh inning. He was placed on the 15-day DL and was replaced on the roster by Ricky Stone. ... Pittsburgh dropped to 6-27 at Minute Maid Park.

AP-ES-05-06-04 0302EDT