Clemens Is 8-0 After Astro Win

One of the baseball’s most celebrated pitchers earned his first victory at one of the game’s most storied parks.

Roger Clemens won at Wrigley Field and kept his perfect record intact Wednesday, pitching the Houston Astros to a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

“When you have an opportunity to pitch in this type of setting, regardless of how you feel, you want to make the appearance because people come from all over to watch you perform,” Clemens said.

“I enjoy hearing the fans around the stadium, the things they say,” he said.

Clemens (8-0) came back from three consecutive no-decisions with seven sharp innings to earn his 318th career victory, tying Phil Niekro for the 14th on the all-time list.

Clemens’ only other start at Wrigley came last June when he pitched for the Yankees in search of his 300th victory. He wound up taking the loss when the Cubs rallied against New York’s bullpen.

Clemens, 41, has won 12 regular-season decisions in a row since Aug. 9.

“I’m not too worried about streaks. I think they’re great because we’re winning,” Clemens said.

“I don’t put a lot of stock into them. I know that they could change at any time. So you want to try and ride them.”

Clemens gave up one run -- on a broken-bat single -- and five hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked two in his 108-pitch outing.

“This is a special time. I think we have to appreciate -- those of us who really like baseball, whether you pull for the Astros or not -- just to see what he is doing,” Astro Manager Jimy Williams said.

Houston broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth when Jeff Kent extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a two-out triple off the right-field wall and Lance Berkman singled off Matt Clement (6-4).

Arizona 8, San Francisco 6 -- Randy Johnson (7-4) won his fourth start in a row and Shea Hillenbrand homered and drove in three runs in the Diamondbacks’ victory at Phoenix.

Cincinnati 3, Florida 1 -- Sean Casey singled in the seventh to break up Dontrelle Willis’ bid for a perfect game, then hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the ninth off Matt Perisho as the Reds completed a three-game sweep at Miami.

San Diego 2, Colorado 1 -- Jay Payton drove in the winning run with a single in the 10th as the Padres won at San Diego.

St. Louis 5, Pittsburgh 3 -- Albert Pujols hit his major league-leading 17th home run and Tony Womack had four hits as the Cardinals won at Pittsburgh.

New York 5, Philadelphia 3 -- Todd Zeile hit a tying, three-run homer in the eighth and a two-run drive in the 10th to lift the Mets to a three-game sweep at Philadelphia.

Montreal 8, Atlanta 4 -- Backup catcher Einar Diaz drove in three runs as the Expos avoided a three-game sweep by the Braves at Atlanta.

*

Chicago Cub right-hander Mark Prior (sore Achilles’ tendon, tender elbow) threw 32 pitches off the mound at Wrigley Field and said he’s ready for his season debut Friday against Pittsburgh.

*

Players put on the 15-day disabled list: Pittsburgh right-hander Brian Boehringer (tendinitis in right shoulder).... San Diego outfielder Brian Buchanan (strained rib-cage muscle). The move was retroactive to Saturday.... Florida catcher Ramon Castro (inflammation in right big toe).