Clemens stronger in 2nd appearance
SUGAR LAND, Texas — Roger Clemens was back on the mound again Friday night and the 50-year-old didn’t disappoint.
Clemens pitched 4 2-3 scoreless innings for Sugar Land of the independent Atlantic League with his oldest son Koby catching him against Long Island.
Pitching in front of a sellout crowd that included country music star and Clemens buddy Toby Keith and Houston rapper Paul Wall, Clemens looked better than he did last month when he tossed 3 1-3 scoreless innings for the Skeeters.
He allowed two hits and struck out one.
The seven-time Cy Young Award winner pitched a perfect first inning before getting his only strikeout when he caught Brandon Sing looking to start the second. The first hit was a two-out single by Matt Esquivel in the second. He retired the side in the third and allowed one hit — a single — in the fourth.
His last out of the fourth inning was a flyout on a ball hit by former Met Timo Perez. He had faced Clemens before, going 0 for 4 against him the second game of the 2000 World Series.
He retired the first two hitters in the fifth before hugging his son and heading to the dugout to a standing ovation.
For the first time, Clemens is set to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot going out to voters later this year.
