It was a hot and humid evening as this historic matchup began at Wrigley Field, with the wind blowing in at 10 mph and an 80% chance of rain. Roger Clemens , 43 years old with 342 career victories, opposing Greg Maddux, 40, with 325 career wins. Two certain Hall of Famers with 11 Cy Young awards shared between them.
Craig Biggio, another player on a quest for the Hall, hit the second pitch from Maddux into the left field bleachers for his National League career leading 49th leadoff homer to give the Astros an early 1-0 lead. Lance Berkman had a two-out single in the inning, but was stranded.
Clemens retired the side in the first on a groundout, a strikeout looking and a fly to left.
As the wind died down, Brad Ausmus, a career .326 hitter against Maddux, lined a one-out single to right center in the second, but could not advance further.
Clemens allowed a double to Jacque Jones and a walk in the bottom half of the second, but struck out a frustrated Ronnie Cedeno on a high fastball to end the threat.
Both teams were retired in order in the 3rd and 4th innings. Ausmus lead off the 5th with a ringing double to left center, but remained on second as the Astros next three hitters grounded out.
Young Angel Pagan, in the bottom of the 5th, hit a one-out shot down the 3B line that rolled into the bullpen area for a double. Clemens once again mowed down Cedeno with a high fastball and retired Maddux on a slow roller to second.
In the 6th, Mike Lamb singled leaving off, then took off for second on a hit and run play with Chris Burke at the plate. Maddux pitched out and Cedeno had the ball waiting on Lamb at second, but Lamb slid hard to the base and Cedeno bailed without tagging the runner. Burke then botched a sac bunt attempt, a hard two hopper back to Maddux who threw out the sliding Lamb at third for his 7th assist in the game. Berkman popped up for the second out, then newly acquired Aubrey Huff singled Burke to third. Preston Wilson stepped to the dish and delivered a two-run double into right center that rolled to the ivy for a 3-0 Astros lead. Ausmus struck out to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the sixth, Clemens allowed a single to speedy leadoff man Juan Pierre, who promptly stole second base. Adam Everett made a tough play in the hole look easy on a grounder as Pierre remained at second. Clemens then struck out the rusty Derek Lee on a high fastball and coaxed a grounder to second out of Aramis Ramirez for the third out. Clemens had thrown 60 strikes among his 85 pitches.
In the 7th, Everett grounded out to short for the first out. The Astros then pinch hit for Clemens with Orlando Palmeiro, who hit a high fly to deep left for the second out. Biggio followed with a grounder to third for the final out. This was to be the last inning for Maddux.
Chad Qualls took to the hill for the bottom half of the 7th. He struck out Jones on a shoe-top pitch for the first out, then allowed an infield single before a sweet 4-6-3 double play ended the inning.
Lamb led off the 8th by fouling off numerous curves from lefty reliever Scott Eyre, finally striking out, but making Eyre work hard. Burke walked on a full-count pitch for the first free pass of the game. Berkman, batting righty, hit a 3-0 pitch high to left for out number two. Burke advanced to second on a wild pitch before Huff flied out to center for the final out.
Qualls remained in the game to start the 8th, retiring Cedeno on a fly to center, but walked pinch hitter Phil Nevin as the expected rain began to fall, sending the Wrigley faithful running for shelter and Qualls to the showers as he was replaced with Trever Miller. Pierre layed down a bunt on Miller’s first pitch and Huff made a nice barehanded play for the second out, sending Nevin to second. Todd Walker then deposited Miller’s second pitch of the inning into the right field stands to tighten the game to 3-2. Dan Wheeler entered and allowed a single to center by Lee before retiring Ramirez on a fly to left.
Wilson, celebrating his birthday today, led off the 9th with a shot to right field that Jones misjudged into a double. Ausmus laid down a perfect sac bunt to advance Wilson to third, and Everett laid down another perfect bunt on a squeeze play with a 2-0 count to score Wilson for the Astros fourth run of the game. The Cubs expected the squeeze a pitch earlier by pitching out. Luke Scott pinch hit for Wheeler and struck out looking to end the 9th.
With a 4-2 lead and three outs needed to secure a much needed victory, Astros manager Phil Garner gave the ball to closer Brad Lidge and installed Willy Taveras in center, moving Burke to second base. Jones led off and worked the count full before striking out on an inside heater. Michael “Bitch” Barrett followed with a high pop to short left for the second out, and Pagan (p: pay-gone) also struck out to earn Lidge his 22nd save of the year and Clemens his 2nd win of the year-and 343 career, good for 8th place all-time.
Day game tomorrow at 1:20, Andy Pettitte vs. Carlos Zambrano.