The Rocket won his first game in three weeks and the Stros jacked three solo yaks in a 5-3 win over the Padres at the Juice Box on Sunday, stopping a four-game losing streak and giving Phil Garner his first win as the Stros’ skipper.
Clemens was his usual reliable self, retiring 16 consecutive batters starting with the final out of the first. The win was his 321st career victory, moving three behind Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton, who share 12th place on the all-time win list. Clemens allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings, striking out five and walking just one.
Beltran, JK and Bidg cranked the taters, and out machine junior Adam Everett came through with a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the seventh to seal the win.
Pete Munro and Brandon “Gopherball” Duckworth start the first two games of the upcoming Dodger series at the Juice Box, so a winning streak does not look promising. This Stros team simply does not hit well enough to get by with below average pitching, which is what the Stros will generally receive from Munro and Duckworth.