May 10, 2005, 1:40AM
Astros break streaks
Clemens fires blanks to earn 330th career win
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
• ASTROS/MLB: Full Chronicle coverage, boxscores, stats
MIAMI - Arriving at Dolphins Stadium on Monday, Roger Clemens couldn't help but think about his last start here. He fondly recalled the night of Oct. 22, 2003, when he was trailed by a buzz of flashbulbs from the mound to the visitors' dugout as the Marlins tipped their caps to him in Game 4 of the World Series.
He had said that World Series game would be his last start. He believed it. His family believed it. The world believed it, so did his Yankees teammates, the Marlins. And the sellout crowd that night honored him with a display never before seen for an opposing player in the World Series.
By now, everybody knows how a citywide lobbying effort in Houston lured Clemens back last year to pitch for his hometown Astros. There was no standing ovation on Monday night, but Clemens returned to Dolphins Stadium and obliged the crowd by beating the Marlins 2-1 to become the winningest living pitcher.
"Coming to the stadium today, you definitely felt it," he said of the memories from 2003. "I thought it was going to be the last start of my career."
Clemens pitched seven scoreless innings to claim his 330th victory and snap the Astros' six-game losing streak and 11-game road losing streak.
With the victory, Clemens passed Steve Carlton to move into sole possession of ninth place on the all-time list.
"The last two years have been just special," said Clemens, who is 2-1 this season and 20-5 as an Astro. "I didn't expect to be here passing these guys. I call Andy (Pettitte) 'Lefty.' But to pass the big lefthander (Carlton), I enjoyed watching him work. I enjoyed seeing the highlights of him.
"It's just really special. He's one of the best lefthanders ever. To have my name alongside of him, that's where I consider him. Even though I'm in front of him, I still feel I'm right there with those guys."
[THE WINNINGEST MEN ALIVE
Living pitchers with the most career victories:1. Roger Clemens 3302. Steve Carlton 329 3. Nolan Ryan 324 3. Don Sutton 324 5. Phil Niekro 318 6. Gaylord Perry 314 7. Tom Seaver 311 8. Greg Maddux 306 9. Tommy John 288 10. Bert Blyleven 287 Since joining the Astros, Clemens has passed Carlton (329), John Clarkson (328), Eddie Plank (326), Nolan Ryan (324), Don Sutton (324), Phil Niekro (318), Gaylord Perry (314) and Tom Seaver (311).]
At 42 in his 22nd season, Clemens hardly seemed in need of anything while holding the Marlins to four hits and three walks with six strikeouts to win the first game of a three-game series before a crowd of 20,539.
"It means a great deal," Clemens said. "It definitely puts in perspective what type of career that (Carlton) had. Obviously I knew that going in. It was really nice that with all of the struggles that we had even my teammates (were) coming up and saying congratulations. It means a lot."
Clemens has been one of the best performers in baseball this year, but until Monday his teammates had capitalized only once even though he hadn't given up more than three runs in any of his first six starts. On three occasions, he settled for no-decisions despite throwing seven scoreless innings.
He finally got enough support to pass Carlton. Morgan Ensberg set up the Astros' first run with a leadoff walk in the second inning against Marlins starter A.J. Burnett (3-3). He stole second and reached third when Jose Vizcaino struck out on a wild pitch.
With the infield in, Orlando Palmeiro drove in Ensberg with a single through the left side. One out later, Clemens singled to right. Burnett struck out Willy Taveras to escape further damage.
"Anything he accomplishes is amazing to me," Palmeiro said of Clemens. "I think it's easy the longer you're in the league to lose some drive, and he hasn't lost any drive, any focus or anything like that."
Vizcaino, who started in place of Adam Everett at short, set up the Astros' second run with a one-out triple down the right-field line in the seventh. Palmeiro, who started in right field in place of Jason Lane, followed with a sacrifice fly.
"Once the guys got the two runs, it felt like a lot," Clemens said. "So you just want to try to hold on by not making mistakes late."
Clemens stranded runners in scoring position in the sixth and seventh.
The Marlins made it 2-1 with a run off Chad Qualls in the eighth, and Russ Springer ended that threat by getting Paul Lo Duca to fly to right. Brad Lidge, who is still plagued by the lingering effects of pneumonia, handled the ninth for his sixth save.
"It's hard to kick back and enjoy those things because you're in the middle of something right now that you're trying to accomplish," said Clemens, who lowered his ERA to 1.10 and has yet to allow a run on the road in 21 innings. "Whether you're having success or not, it's the overall how you feel as a group. And we don't feel that great just right now.
"We need to make some big strides. That's what I think about. I'll enjoy it and hopefully I'll get a few items, mementoes of the game, if you will."
Just call it another memorable night in Miami.
jesus.ortiz@chron.com
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