Posted on 05/26/2003 3:39:33 PM PDT by Jimmyclyde
Monday, May 26
Rocket can't reel off 300th on Memorial Day
- Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Roger Clemens failed in his first bid for his 300th win, leaving the New York Yankees' game against the Boston Red Sox on Monday trailing 7-3.
Clemens, who won his 299th game last Wednesday in Boston, is looking to become the 21st 300-game winner in baseball history and first since Nolan Ryan in 1990. His next start is scheduled for Sunday in Detroit.
Clemens, who won 192 games in 13 seasons in Boston, would have become the second pitcher to win his 300th game against his original team. Steve Carlton did it against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Clemens left to a standing ovation after allowing Todd Walker's two-run single with two outs in the sixth. He walked back to the dugout with his head down as his family watched.
Nomar Garciaparra added an RBI single against Antonio Osuna, finishing the line on Clemens, who allowed eight runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He threw a season-high 133 pitches, striking out nine and walking two, including one with the bases loaded.
The Red Sox got to Clemens early, scoring in the second inning on Shea Hillenbrand's RBI single. Clemens struck out the final two batters of the frame with runners on first and second to limit the damage.
Boston then added two runs in the third and two more in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead.
Clemens walked Trot Nixon with the bases loaded in the third and could have been in even more trouble but center fielder Hideki Matsui made a spectacular diving catch to rob Kevin Millar of an extra-base hit with the bases loaded. Garciaparra scored on the sacrifice fly.
Walker added an RBI groundout in the fourth and Doug Mirabelli scored when Clemens uncorked a wild pitch.
After a rain delay of 1 hour, 42 minutes, the Red Sox tried to fluster Clemens from the start.
Before Clemens threw his first pitch in the top of first, Boston manager Grady Little came out to complain to home plate umpire Bill Miller about a 300-win patch on the back of Clemens' glove.
Miller and crew chief Joe West went to the mound to talk to Clemens. A bat boy brought out a new glove for the Rocket, drawing boos from the Yankee Stadium crowd. Clemens retired the Red Sox in order in the first.
BWAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!
I'll second that...
BWAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!
Of course, what worries me is that the Yanks are slumping in May - The Sox like to wait until August/September.
Sad but true.
If they don't stop, they'll go blind.
He did have 9 Ks in 5 2/3 innings, as you know. Clemens had more 2 strike counts than I can remember - and he could not capitalize.
Clemens "spanked" Clemens. It should have been a 15 K win.
Roger would have never done what he did after leaving Boston.
Just for the record, I hope he gets his 300th.
But not today my friend, not today.
Anyway, enough whining about the weather. I am glad Clemens didn't get the 300th win against Boston. I just checked the standings and the Bosox are 2.5 games ahead of the slumping Yankees. Not a bad start to the season. But I remember 1978 (and other disastrous late-season collapses) too well to get excited.
Posted as would a long-suffering New Englander...I know what you mean.
You got it Senator, that's what the Rem-dog (Sox color man Jerry Remy) was saying, but he attributed it to skillful Sox batters, so, yah, I think we can call it a spanking.
Nasty....
We came home early.
I "enjoyed" the rain at home.
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