Roger Clemens hurt his right calf running the bases (he does everything for the Stros, you know) and watched as his teammates beat the Phils 9-8 on Wednesday night in the type of game that just might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back in the Phils’ decision on when to fire the Boa Constrictor.
Carlos Beltran‘s two-run double in the eighth inning was the game winner on a day in which — as predicted here — the Stros learned that Andy Pettitte will have season-ending elbow surgery next week. Pettitte and the Stros are telling the media that he expects to be ready to pitch again by spring training in 2005, but don’t bet on that. Best case is that he pitches again sometime next season, more likely by around June or so.
Clemens is day to day after straining his right calf running to first base on his two-run single in the fourth, but doesn’t expect to miss his next start. Before he left the game, the Rocket gave up four runs in three innings in this unusually wild affair. Beltran finished with two hits and three RBI for the Stros, who somehow remain just are six games behind the Giants in the race for the NL wild-card playoff spot. The Stros hitters uncharacteristically cranked out 13 hits, including at least one by every starter. Just to make sure that this see-saw game ended on an appropriate note, Brad Lidge retired a pinch-hitter on a shallow fly ball with the bases loaded to end the game. The loss means that the Phils are now 1-8 on their current homestand, which is not going over well with the Philly locals
The Stros have moved Carlos Hernandez up in the rotation to pitch today’s businessman’s special in Philly before the club returns home to battle the Cubbies in a weekend series at the Juice Box.