The Rocket dominated the Cubs for seven innings in running his record to 8-0 as the Stros beat the Cubs on Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field, 5-1.
Clemens struck out five and gave up only five hits, a run, and two walks in his seven innings of work. His effort was was highlighted by his running discussion with home plate umpire Mike Fichter, which Clemens carried on in a relatively diplomatic manner throughout the game. But after the seventh inning, Clemens walked to the dugout yelling in anger while never looking at Fichter, and Fichter stared at the Rocket during his entire walk to the dugout. As they say in the bigs, Clemens “has a little turd in him.”
As usual, Lance Berkman drove in the lead run and reached base for the 33rd game in a row. Jeff Kent also had a triple and scored three runs, while Lidge and Dotel were dominating in the eighth and ninth innings for the second game in a row.
The Stros get a day to play golf in St. Louis on Thursday before opening a weekend series with the Redbirds on Friday night. Wade Miller, Tim Redding, and Roy O will pitch the series against the Cards.
In other news, the Stros announced the signing of Pete Munro, who has been with the Stros off and on over the past three seasons. Munro had been pitching with the Twins’ AAA club this season, but could opt out of that contract if he received an offer from an MLB club.
The odd man out is Brandon Backe — one of the two Brandons who stunk on Tuesday night in Chicago — who was optioned to AAA New Orleans. Backe has actually pitched better than the other Brandon (Duckworth), but the Stros still have options under Backe’s contract to send him to the minors. I suspect that the Stros do not have any options under Duckworth’s contract. Nevertheless, my sense is that the Stros will do something soon with Duckworth, probably either working out a deal to allow him to attempt to improve at AAA or simply grant him his unconditional release.