Clemens wins No. 345 vs. Bucs
HOUSTON — Roger Clemens needed reassurance from catcher Brad Ausmus that he was still the same old Rocket against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night.
The seven-time Cy Young winner felt like he was missing his usual sharpness, but still earned his 345th win, allowing one run in six innings in Houston's 5-2 victory.
"I didn't feel like I had a lot of life," Clemens said, "and then Brad came out and said it's as good as ever."
Clemens (4-4) struck out five and allowed four hits, yielding two runs or fewer for the eighth time in 10 starts. His 2.32 ERA since June 22 leads NL starters.
"He said he felt like he was underwater was the term I think he used," Ausmus said. "That translates to being a little sluggish. I thought he had good life on his fastball."
Ausmus also helped out Clemens with a pair of RBI singles and Morgan Ensberg hit a three-run homer for the Astros, who have won seven of nine. Houston earned its first series sweep since taking three in a row from the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in mid-June.
The Astros now stand just 2Z\x games behind Cincinnati in the crowded NL wild card race.
"We have to do it every night," Clemens said. "We know where we stand. This bunch is up to that challenge."
Freddy Sanchez hit a sacrifice fly and Ronny Paulino had an RBI groundout in the ninth off Brad Lidge. Pittsburgh mustered just four runs in the series and eight in six games at Houston this season.
Manager Jim Tracy was disappointed his team blew chances to win Thursday's series finale.
"It came down to an opportunity that got away from us and an opportunity they capitalized on," he said.
Ensberg's 20th homer of the season was his first since he came off the disabled list on Aug. 1 after recovering from a bruised right shoulder.
"I don't know if it's so much a relief," Ensberg said, "but it definitely felt good."
Before Ensberg's home run, the Astros couldn't do much against starter Tom Gorzelanny (2-3). The 24-year-old left-hander was almost as good as Clemens, allowing five hits with six strikeouts. He also walked five and the two run-scoring singles by Ausmus.
Gorzelanny walked Ensberg and Luke Scott in the second, and Ausmus singled sharply single to center for his first RBI since he hit his third career grand slam in Arizona on Aug. 5.
In the fourth, Scott beat out a grounder that second baseman Jose Castillo fielded before throwing over the head of first baseman Xavier Nady. With one out, Ausmus singled to center again, securing his sixth multi-RBI game of the season.
Like Clemens, Gorzelanny felt like he struggled with his control.
"It was one of those days I had to battle through," he said. "I was not really hitting my spots. I was just grinding."
Clemens retired nine consecutive batters before Nate McLouth's one-out single in the sixth. Jack Wilson followed with a line-drive double to left, but McLouth only reached third.
Sanchez, the NL's batting leader, then sent a fly to right to score McLouth.
Clemens was finished after Jeromy Burnitz walked and Nady singled starting the seventh. He was replaced by Chad Qualls.
