Clemens Looking Healthy, Dominant

Roger Clemens, making his first start in 10 days, pitched two-hit ball over seven innings as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Texas Rangers, 6-0, on Saturday night.

Clemens (3-0) extended his shutout streak to 19 innings and didn’t give up a hit until Dean Palmer’s one-out single in the fourth. He struck out four and walked four, improving to 8-6 against Texas.

His record is even better against the Angels. Clemens is 25-7 in his career against Anaheim with a 2.37 earned run average. Last season, as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, Clemens was 2-0 and did not give up an earned run to the Angels.

In his previous start April 9, Clemens left the game because of a muscle strain in his left groin. He said he pitched without pain Saturday.

Carlos Delgado hit a two-run homer in a four-run first off Ken Hill (1-2) and Ed Sprague hit a two-run single. Two-out singles by Orlando Merced and Joe Carter set up the big inning.

Toronto added two more runs in the second on Shawn Green’s homer and Carlos Garcia’s run-scoring single.

Paul Spoljaric pitched the eighth for Toronto, and Tim Crabtree finished for the Blue Jays. Each reliever gave up one hit.

Hill gave up six runs and 11 hits in seven innings.