Clemens Still Going Strong in His Encore

His credentials had already been stamped for delivery to Cooperstown. His performance across 20 seasons had already ensured his status as one of the greatest right-handers ever, one of the greatest pitchers ever.

There was not going to be an encore when Roger Clemens left the mound to bipartisan thunder in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series at Pro Player Stadium last October, but it may be that the unexpected encore has been more impressive than anything that came before.

At 41, pitching for his hometown Houston Astros, it has been another All-Star endorsement, at the least, of his unrelenting work ethic and unquestioned stature -- neither of which was damaged on a postcard Saturday.

In his first career start at Dodger Stadium, the renowned Rocket elevated the electricity only to have his offensive support unplugged by Wilson Alvarez, that reluctant starter, and the back line of the Dodger bullpen -- Guillermo Mota and Eric Gagne.

Gold Glove defense enabled that trio of Dodger pitchers to restrict the Astros to three hits in a 3-1 victory produced by Paul Lo Duca’s three-run homer in the sixth inning.

The tenacious Clemens gave up only four hits through seven characteristic innings in which he made 109 pitches and struck out eight, consistently throwing in the 93-mph range while rejecting a series of threats before Lo Duca hit a first-pitch, split-finger fastball into the Dodger bullpen in left.

“A pretty good split,” Clemens said of the decisive pitch, “but home runs don’t beat you. Walks beat you, especially when you know that you have to minimize your mistakes because the game is going to be close.”

Clemens walked Dave Roberts to open the sixth, Cesar Izturis blooped a double near the right-field line after Roberts had stolen second, and Lo Duca followed with the home run that ultimately deprived Clemens of his 321st victory.

So, instead of returning to Houston for a possible start in Tuesday night’s All-Star game at 11-2, he’s only a little less glamorous at 10-3, his earned-run average (2.62) among the league’s best, as is his strikeout total and the .215 batting average to which he has limited opponents.

The calendar obviously lies. At 41 going on 31, Clemens has worked seven innings in each of his last four starts, giving up six earned runs, but there’s little solace amid the tailspin of the Astros, who were 19-10 on May 7 and have gone 25-33 since -- their offense characterized by catcher Brad Ausmus after this latest loss as missing in action.

“We haven’t scored many runs when Roger has pitched, but it’s not just Roger,” Ausmus said. “Our offense has been an embarrassment.

“I know I’m embarrassed, and we all should be. It’s been six weeks, and the pitchers aren’t to blame.”

The Central Division was expected to be a dogfight, but the St. Louis Cardinals are turning it into a runaway. They are eight games ahead of the Chicago Cubs, 10 1/2 up on the careening Astros.

There is speculation that Houston Manager Jimy Williams may be fired before the All-Star break ends, and there has even been speculation that Clemens could return to his Boston Red Sox roots if the Astros foreclose on their playoff hopes.

The American League East behemoths are stirring again, and who knows how the Red Sox will react if the New York Yankees acquire Randy Johnson?

Houston owner Drayton McLane emphatically says that Clemens isn’t going anywhere, and Clemens refused to legitimize the speculation Saturday.

Nor would he take satisfaction in a first-half performance that has him on course for a seventh Cy Young Award, a long way from retirement.

“There’s no satisfaction,” he said, citing the standings. “We’re in everybody’s rearview mirror right now. I’ve had success for many years, and it’s always the same thing, a handshake and pat on the back.

“I’m not really looking for that. That’s not the satisfaction I’m interested in. I want to see the smile on these other guys’ faces.

“I know that what I do is going to be work for me. It always has been. When I see my teammates smile, that’s when I’m happy.”

This was to be the happiest of seasons for Clemens and the Astros. Andy Pettitte came home as a free agent and talked his friend and former Yankee teammate out of retirement.

Pettitte has been hampered by injuries. Clemens hasn’t missed a beat.

“Once I made my mind up to come back and do this I knew it was going to take a great deal of effort and high level of play and everything else that I’ve come to know to work my way back to this level,” he said. “Again, it didn’t happen by accident. There’s a lot of work that goes into it and that’s just one key component of what goes into being able to play 21 years.”

Now, Clemens’ next appearance will be in Tuesday’s All-Star game, possibly as the starter in a potentially acidic battery with Mike Piazza. Each has been at the top of the other’s enemies list since 2000, when Piazza was beaned by Clemens in midseason and then had the barrel of his broken bat hurled in his direction by Clemens during the World Series.

There have been words, but Clemens refused to express any in regard to Piazza or the All-Star game Saturday, saying it was the wrong time and place.

His Houston catcher has only praise for the performance that has returned Clemens to the midsummer classic.

“He’s been awesome,” Ausmus said. “He’s more than given us a chance to win almost each of his starts. Catching and playing with him has been easy. Convincing him to come back next year may be the hard part.”

Especially if the Astros are talking about next year with this year only half over.