Two-Stage Rocket

It took Roger Clemens so long to get his 300th victory, he accrued interest.

When it finally happened, when the New York Yankees beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-2, Friday night, it was worth two additions to his Hall of Fame plaque.

Not only did Clemens become the 21st pitcher to win 300 games, he also became only the third to surpass 4,000 strikeouts.

“I wouldn’t distinguish between the two,” Clemens said. “My two [championship] rings I look at every day are still the best.

“Four thousand and 300 puts me with some great men that have ever played the game and stepped on that mound. I’m very happy I was able to catch those guys.”

After winning No. 299 on May 21 in a 4-2 Yankee victory at Boston, where he spent the first 13 years of his career, Clemens took two losses and a no-decision. His entourage of family and friends traipsed from New York to Detroit to Chicago hoping to be there for the historic moment.

While Clemens kept stumbling across the threshold of history, the rest of the team was falling apart. After roaring out to an 18-3 start, the best in franchise history, the Yankees were only 19-15 afterward, including a five-game losing streak in May and a hitless outing against six Houston Astro pitchers Wednesday. It was the first time the Yankees had been no-hit since 1958.

Owner George Steinbrenner and Manager Joe Torre were sniping at each other again, and even bench coach Don Zimmer jumped into the fray, telling the Boss to back off and leave Torre alone. Reliever Juan Acevedo, who served up a home run that erased a lead in Clemens’ last start, was cut shortly thereafter. And the Mets’ firing of general manager Steve Phillips on Thursday had some wondering if the Yankees’ Brian Cashman would be next.

Through all of the Bronx Zoo antics, the Yankees had become average on the field -- and Steinbrenner isn’t spending $180 million this season for average.

For one night, Yankee Stadium regained that electric atmosphere usually reserved for October.

“It took on a playoff atmosphere,” Torre said. “It was pretty special for me.”

Nothing was going to deny Clemens on Friday night. Not a steady rain. Not two blown leads. Not even the ominous date: Friday the 13th.

Clemens came through with a vintage performance, striking out 10 while allowing six hits, two walks and two runs in 6 2/3 innings.

“He probably pitched as good a game as he’s ever pitched, under the circumstances,” Torre said.

He later added, “If Roger decides to walk away, it’s because he wants to walk away, not because he can’t do this anymore.”

Torre’s comments splashed a little reality onto the evening, serving as a reminder that Clemens is 40 and won’t add to these illustrious totals after this season.

Clemens confirmed it, saying: “I’m not coming back. This is it for me.”

He’s more sentimental than he seems, and he admits he has been savoring the accomplishments. After icing down his arm and shaving, Clemens put on his uniform and returned to the dugout, sitting between Torre and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre while Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth.

He looked a little misty-eyed as he took the field for congratulatory handshakes, and he admitted, “My voice was cracking. I was trying to keep it together.”

His rooting section included his wife, Debbie, his four sons and their friends, a sister, a nephew, his mother-in-law and brother-in-law.

Clemens struck out the side in the first inning. “Straight adrenaline,” he said.

In the bottom of the first, Derek Jeter singled and, one out later, Jorge Posada doubled to put the Yankees ahead, 1-0.

Clemens lost the lead in the top of the second, when Jim Edmonds led off with a home run to left field on a 1-0 pitch.

Then it was time to resume the pursuit of history. He needed one more strikeout for 4,000, and for the next two batters the applause and a pyrotechnic display of flashing light bulbs accompanied every two-strike pitch.

This one was delayed as well, but only for one batter. After Scott Rolen turned a 2-2 pitch into a double, Edgar Renteria became Clemens’ 4,000th strikeout victim.

The cheering peaked again when Bob Sheppard introduced the next batter, Tino Martinez. He was a Yankee from 1996 to 2001, earning the fans’ respect in the difficult role of replacing Don Mattingly. Clemens stepped off the rubber so Martinez could wave his helmet to the crowd. Then Clemens welcomed him back by striking him out.

Clemens’ first six outs were strikeouts.

After Ruben Sierra’s home run in the bottom of the fourth broke the second tie of the game, Clemens got out of a shaky fifth by striking out Edmonds and Rolen.

With Clemens’ pitch count nearing 100, the bullpen door opened before the top of the seventh. But he emerged from the dugout, under the agreement that he could try to get two outs and would not face J.D. Drew. He got Kerry Robinson and Miguel Cairo to fly out to center field, then Torre went to the mound under a torrent of boos.

“I told him, ‘I used to be popular here,’ ” Torre said.

Clemens came out to a standing ovation. And after the bullpen held the fort, he basked in the glory ... and his kids scooped up some pitching-mound dirt.

Although Clemens appreciated everything about the night, he and the Yankees are glad it’s finally over.

“We’ll get back to normalcy tomorrow,” Clemens said.

Which in the Bronx means players coming and going, owner rants and questions about the manager’s job security.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Getting to 300 Wins

*--* Roger Clemens got his 300th win in his fourth attempt Friday night in the New York Yankees’ 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. A look at the eight most recent pitchers to reach the 300-win milestone, how many attempts it took them and how they did it: PITCHER CAREER WINS GOT NO. 300 ON DATE WARREN SPAHN 363 FIRST TRY Aug. 11, 1961 Spahn becomes the first pitcher in 20 years to reach 300 wins in the Milwaukee Braves’ 2--1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at County Stadium. Lefty Grove had been the last pitcher to reach the milestone EARLY WYNN 300 EIGHTH TRY July 13, 1963 Wynn leaves with a one-run lead after struggling through five innings and needs Jerry Walker to pitch four scoreless innings to nail down his elusive 300th win in the Cleveland Indians’ 7-4 victory at Kansas City. Wynn started his bid for No. 300 in August 1962 for the Chicago White Sox, who released him after the season GAYLORD PERRY 314 FIRST TRY May 6, 1982 Perry reaches milestone despite giving up nine hits and six walks in the Seattle Mariners’ 7-3 victory over the New York Yankees at the Kingdome. Perry wears a different uniform each inning, allegedly intending to sell them as memorabilia STEVE CARLTON 329 FIRST TRY Sept. 23, 1983 Carlton, after making 136 pitches in eight innings, is removed by Philadelphia Phillie Manager Paul Owens from his milestone win, a 6-2 victory over the Cardinals in St. Louis. Even after his biggest achievement, Carlton continues his custom of not talking to the media TOM SEAVER 311 FIRST TRY Aug. 4, 1985 On a day of milestones, Seaver pitches a six-hitter to get his 300th win in the Chicago White Sox’s 4-1 victory on Phil Rizzuto Day at Yankee Stadium, and the Angels’ Rod Carew gets his 3,000th hit in a game against his former team, the Minnesota Twins PHIL NIEKRO 318 FIFTH TRY Oct. 6, 1985 Niekro gets his 300th win on the final day of the 1985 season with a four-hitter in the New York Yankees’ 8-0 victory over the Blue Jays in Toronto. He strikes out former Atlanta Brave teammate Jeff Burroughs to end the game and, at age 46, becomes the oldest pitcher with a shutout DON SUTTON 324 SECOND TRY June 18, 1986 Sutton, pitching for the Angels (his fifth major league team), throws a three-hitter to reach the milestone in a 3-1 victory over the Texas Rangers at Anaheim Stadium. Said Sutton of his accomplishment: “What it means is that I was around 21 years to win 300 games. I was unspectacular but I got the job done.” NOLAN RYAN 324 SECOND TRY July 30, 1990 Ryan, pitching for the Texas Rangers, takes a 5-1 lead into the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers before a supportive crowd of 51,533 at County Stadium, but gives up two runs and is pulled by Manager Bobby Valentine after making 146 pitches. Reliever Brad Arnsberg works out of the inning without allowing a run and the Rangers score six runs in the ninth to take the suspense out of Ryan’s 300th victory Primary source: BaseballLibrary.com

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*--* Another Milestone Roger Clemens became the third pitcher with 4,000 strikeouts. A look at the career top 10, with strikeouts per nine innings, win-loss record and ERA : Player Years SO SO/9IP W-L ERA Nolan Ryan 1966-93 5,714 9.55 324-292 3.19 Steve Carlton 1965-88 4,136 7.13 329-244 3.22 Roger Clemens 1984- 4,006 8.67 300-155 3.17 Randy Johnson 1988- 3,777 11.21 225-108 3.09 Bert Blyleven 1970-92 3,701 6.70 287-250 3.31 Tom Seaver 1967-86 3,640 6.85 311-205 2.86 Don Sutton 1966-88 3,574 6.09 324-256 3.26 Gaylord Perry 1962-83 3,534 5.94 314-265 3.11 Walter Johnson 1907-27 3,508 5.34 417-279 2.17 Phil Niekro 1964-87 3,342 5.57 318-274 3.35 Note: Of those eligible, all are in the Hall of Fame except Blyleven

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Shining Night

Pitcher Roger Clemens joined two elite lists Friday at Yankee Stadium:

*--* 300 AND COUNTING Pitchers with 300 or more wins (* active): Pitcher Wins 1. Cy Young (1890-1911) 511 2. Walter Johnson (1907-27) 417 3. Grover Cl. Alexander (1911-30) 373 3. Christy Mathewson (1900-16) 373 5. Warren Spahn (1942-65) 363 6. Kid Nichols (1890-1906) 361 7. Pud Galvin (1875-92) 360 8. Tim Keefe (1880-93) 342 9. Steve Carlton (1965-88) 329 10. John Clarkson (1882-94) 328 11. Eddie Plank (1901-17) 326 12. Nolan Ryan (1966-93) 324 12. Don Sutton (1966-88) 324 14. Phil Niekro (1964-87) 318 15. Gaylord Perry (1962-83 314 16. Tom Seaver (1967-86) 311 17. Charley Radbourn (1880-91) 309 18. Mickey Welch (1880-92) 307 19. Lefty Grove (1925-41) 300 19. Early Wynn (1939-63) 300 19. Roger Clemens* (1984- ) 300

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*--* 4,006 AND COUNTING Career strikeout leaders: Pitcher (Years) Strikeouts 1. Nolan Ryan (1966-93) 5,714 2. Steve Carlton (1965-88) 4,136 3. Roger Clemens (1984-) 4,006 4. Randy Johnson (1988-) 3,777 5. Bert Blyleven (1970-92) 3,701 6. Tom Seaver (1967-86) 3,640 7. Don Sutton (1966-88) 3,574 8. Gaylord Perry (1962-83) 3,534 9. Walter Johnson (1907-27) 3,508 10. Phil Niekro (1964-87) 3,342

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