Pirates rookie Snell outduels Astros’ Clemens
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Rookie Ian Snell pitched eight shutout
innings for his first major league victory as the Pittsburgh
Pirates blanked Roger Clemens and the Houston Astros 7-0 in
National League play Monday night in Pittsburgh.
Snell allowed just three singles as the Pirates won for the
fifth time in six games, cutting the Astros’ lead in the NL
wild card race to one game over idle Philadelphia.
Houston had won five straight and appeared to have the
advantage with the 340-game winner Clemens facing Snell in the
pitching match-up, as the rookie entered the game with an 0-3
record lifetime as a starter with an ERA of 12.38.
Snell (1-2) struck out five and walked three and threw just
103 pitches in an impressive effort against Clemens, who was
gone before the end of the sixth inning with the Pirates
leading 6-0.
Jose Mesa finished up with a scoreless ninth, completing
the four-hitter.
Clemens (12-8) allowed six runs – four earned – on 11 hits
with five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings to take the loss.
The 43-year-old Clemens was cheered by the fans at PNC Park
as he took the field before the game and as he left as well.
The park was the only current NL stadium where Clemens had
never pitched.
Freddy Sanchez homered and had a pair of doubles for the
Pirates, who scored four runs in the sixth to chase Clemens.
Jason Bay, Tike Redman and Jack Wilson all had three hits
and drove in a run for the Pirates, who had 15 hits. Rob
Mackowiak added a two-run double in the sixth for Pittsburgh.
The victory was the fourth straight for the Pirates.
In Denver, Khalil Greene hit two homers as the San Diego
Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 8-7.
Scott Linebrink (8-1) pitched two innings and struck out
one for the win. Trevor Hoffman pitched one inning for his 39th
save and Brian Giles and Mark Loretta also homered for the
Padres.
Brian Fuentes (2-4) pitched one inning, allowing one run on
one hit and striking out one to take the loss. Sunny Kim drove
in two runs for the Rockies.