Roger Clemens pitched six effective innings to earn his 347th career victory, helped by Willy Taveras and Brad Ausmus, who three hits each to lead the Astros over Pittsburgh 5-1 at PNC Park.
Clemens won his fourth game in a row as he allowed only one run on six hits and a single walk. He got out of several small jambs in the early innings before allowing a run in the 4th after a walk and a pair of singles. He induced a DP grounder to escape with minimal damage. In the 5th, a leadoff double and a sac put the tying run on third with one out. The next batter hit a comebacker that Rajah grabbed, then ran down the runner between third and home, capped with a face tag that brought a snicker from JD in the booth.
Russ Springer , Dan Wheeler and Brad Lidge followed Clemens with a scoreless inning each.
Lance Berkman plated the first run in the 3rd inning with a solo blast over the 410′ sign in center. Adam Everett singled, stole second, and scored on a bloop single by Ausmus in the 4th. Ausmus scored the third run in the 7th after three straight singles and a fielders choice.
Jason Lane slammed a ninth inning 2-run blast to left after an Ausmus walk to provide insurance.
Taveras extended his club record hitting streak to 28 games, the second longest streak this season after Chase Utley’s 35 game streak.
Game three tomorrow night @ 6:05, Andy Pettitte vs. Zach Duke.