Roger Clemens First Pitcher to go 20/1 (PSA) Week After 9/11 Attack/ NY Yankees

It had been only eight days since terrorists attacked New York

and Washington, and Clemens wasn’t ready to celebrate a baseball

achievement.

“It’s a different feeling,” he said. “There are a lot of things we take for granted and I didn’t know how I’d feel once I got out on the mound. It’s been an unbelievable week with everything.”

The 39-year-old right-hander reached 20 wins for the sixth time

in his career and became the oldest 20-game winner in the AL since

Early Wynn did it in 1959, just shy of his 40th birthday.

The Rocket, struggling at times with his pitching rhythm,

allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings and struck out a

season-low one. It was his first start since Sept. 5, when he beat

Toronto and joined Rube Marquard as the only pitchers since 1900 to

go 19-1.

His scheduled start against Boston on Sept. 10 was rained out,

and the rest of last week’s games were postponed.

After the attacks, Clemens drove 23 hours from New York to take his wife and some friends back to Texas. Then, he rejoined a team trying to deal with a tragedy that rocked the city it represents.

“It just doesn’t have the same feeling it would have two weeks

ago,” said Clemens, who was hugged by his teammates and got the

game ball. “It’s a special win and maybe some time down the road

I’ll take time to reflect on it.”

Five years after Boston general manager Dan Duquette said

Clemens was in the “twilight” of his career and let him go,

Clemens became the AL’s first 20-game winner and lowered the

Yankees’ magic number to five for clinching their fourth straight AL East title.

He has won 16 straight decisions, his only loss coming May 20 at

Seattle. Clemens imporved his career record to 280-143 and is the favorite

for the AL Cy Young Award, which he already has won five times. He

also moved within five of Bert Blyleven (3,701) for third on the

career strikeout list.

“I’ve been around for a long time and to win 20 games at this stage of my career is definitely a blessing,” he said. “It’s been nice. A lot of work has paid off.”

Clemens, who threw 107 pitches, left to a standing ovation from

the crowd of 18,465 after allowing an RBI single in the seventh to

Chris Singleton that pulled Chicago to 4-3. Jay Witasick came in

and got Royce Clayton to hit into an inning-ending double play.

“To go 20-1 at his age and being a power pitcher really says a

lot about how special he is,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Game notes

A moment of silence was observed before the game for the

victims of the terrorist attacks. Manager Joe Torre said the

Yankees feel they are now playing for more than themselves and

their usual fans. “We’re feeling more obligated to all the people

of New York,” Torre said, wearing a NYPD hat in the dugout as

batting practice was rained out. … The White Sox, in light of the

terrorist attacks, have canceled their Fall Instructional League,

which was slated to begin Wednesday in Tucson, Ariz. … Jeter’s

multihomer game was his first this season and third of his career.

… Glover went six innings, allowing four runs and six hits, while

striking out a career-high seven. … Clemens is 20-9 against the

White Sox. … He had his lowest strikeout total since June 14 last

year against Boston _ when he left after one inning with a strained

groin. Clemens is 29-3 since he was activated from the DL on July 2

last year.It had been only eight days since terrorists attacked New York

and Washington, and Clemens wasn’t ready to celebrate a baseball

achievement.

“It’s a different feeling,” he said. “There are a lot of things we take for granted and I didn’t know how I’d feel once I got out on the mound. It’s been an unbelievable week with everything.”

The 39-year-old right-hander reached 20 wins for the sixth time

in his career and became the oldest 20-game winner in the AL since

Early Wynn did it in 1959, just shy of his 40th birthday.

The Rocket, struggling at times with his pitching rhythm,

allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings and struck out a

season-low one. It was his first start since Sept. 5, when he beat

Toronto and joined Rube Marquard as the only pitchers since 1900 to

go 19-1.

His scheduled start against Boston on Sept. 10 was rained out,

and the rest of last week’s games were postponed.

After the attacks, Clemens drove 23 hours from New York to take his wife and some friends back to Texas. Then, he rejoined a team trying to deal with a tragedy that rocked the city it represents.

“It just doesn’t have the same feeling it would have two weeks

ago,” said Clemens, who was hugged by his teammates and got the

game ball. “It’s a special win and maybe some time down the road

I’ll take time to reflect on it.”

Five years after Boston general manager Dan Duquette said

Clemens was in the “twilight” of his career and let him go,

Clemens became the AL’s first 20-game winner and lowered the

Yankees’ magic number to five for clinching their fourth straight AL East title.

He has won 16 straight decisions, his only loss coming May 20 at

Seattle. Clemens imporved his career record to 280-143 and is the favorite

for the AL Cy Young Award, which he already has won five times. He

also moved within five of Bert Blyleven (3,701) for third on the

career strikeout list.

“I’ve been around for a long time and to win 20 games at this stage of my career is definitely a blessing,” he said. “It’s been nice. A lot of work has paid off.”

Clemens, who threw 107 pitches, left to a standing ovation from

the crowd of 18,465 after allowing an RBI single in the seventh to

Chris Singleton that pulled Chicago to 4-3. Jay Witasick came in

and got Royce Clayton to hit into an inning-ending double play.

“To go 20-1 at his age and being a power pitcher really says a

lot about how special he is,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Game notes

A moment of silence was observed before the game for the

victims of the terrorist attacks. Manager Joe Torre said the

Yankees feel they are now playing for more than themselves and

their usual fans. “We’re feeling more obligated to all the people

of New York,” Torre said, wearing a NYPD hat in the dugout as

batting practice was rained out. … The White Sox, in light of the

terrorist attacks, have canceled their Fall Instructional League,

which was slated to begin Wednesday in Tucson, Ariz. … Jeter’s

multihomer game was his first this season and third of his career.

… Glover went six innings, allowing four runs and six hits, while

striking out a career-high seven. … Clemens is 20-9 against the

White Sox. … He had his lowest strikeout total since June 14 last

year against Boston _ when he left after one inning with a strained

groin. Clemens is 29-3 since he was activated from the DL on July 2

last year.