THERE was no need for any high and tight pitches. No need to intimidate hitters by whizzing fastballs near their noggins. Roger Clemens was plenty imposing enough last night at the Stadium without having to venture very far from the strike zone.
Sure, the Yankees’ offense turned the game into a rout by pounding Tigers starter Hideo Nomo for six runs in the first three innings, but that shouldn’t diminish an exceptional outing by Clemens, who reaffirmed his health as well as his ability to dominate.
In winning his fourth straight game, Clemens struck out 11 and walked none over eight innings as the Yankees whipped the Tigers, 9-1, in the first game of a two-game series. He allowed six hits, three in his final two innings while working with a generous lead.
Coming on the heels of Denny Neagle’s impressive debut in beating the Phillies Tuesday night, Clemens’ performance is setting a pattern the Yankees must consistently duplicate if they are going to win the AL East.
With Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez on the disabled list, David Cone (1-8, 6.63) struggling through a horrible season and Doc Gooden working on borrowed time, the anchors on this fragile staff must be Clemens, Neagle and Andy Pettitte, who will start the noon game today against the Tigers.
“Roger definitely feels the responsibility now and he knows what to do with it,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said.
It is a long way to October. But if Clemens, Pettitte and Neagle can carry the rotation until help arrives in some form or another, the Yankees will have at least three starters capable of putting a winning streak together. Clemens, Neagle and Pettitte. That’s the Yankees’ best chance right now.
Certainly, Clemens is on his game. His victory last night was his fourth consecutive win since coming off the disabled list June 15 where he rested a strained right groin. In beating the Devil Rays, the Mets, the Marlins and now the Tigers, he has compiled a 1.84 ERA while pitching at least seven innings in the first three games before going eight last night in what was arguably his best performance since striking out 13 in losing to Pedro Martinez on May 28. Not since August of 1998 had he won four straight outings.
Why has Clemens become his old self again? Torre’s theory is that he has dispensed with the finesse of throwing breaking balls early in the count and become more aggressive with his fastball.
“Roger spent a large part of last year trying to fit in and it has taken him some time to develop this attitude that was the way he has been since early in his career,” Torre said. “He has to go out there and take charge. He’s got to be the star of the game when he goes out on the mound because he sets the tone.”
Clemens says it has more to do with his legs finally being healthy. “It’s a big difference when you have your health,” he said. “I’ve pitched and won when I’ve been hurting. There’s a difference between hurting and being hurt. I was fortunate I didn’t tear (the groin) all the way. It just feels good to have my legs under me.”
It was the 19th time in his career that Clemens recorded double-digit strikeouts without allowing a walk. It also was the 96th time he recorded 10 strikeouts or more, leaving him one behind Sandy Koufax, who is in third place on the all-time list. Finally, Clemens looks like a pitcher worth giving up David Wells for.
It’s been a long time coming. Last season, it was the rest of the rotation that supported Clemens, who won his first five decisions but not more than two in a row after that. He was more of a third or fourth starter than an anchor. This year, with El Duque hurt, Cone off his game and Ramiro Mendoza rehabbing a strained shoulder, the Yankees need Clemens to become a dominate pitcher again. They need him to consistently pitch the way he did last night.
Clemens established himself early, striking out Luis Polonia and Rich Becker, the first two hitters he faced. He would record at least one strikeout in each inning and finished his night by fanning Becker in the eighth for the fourth time. Six of the strikeouts were called strikes as Clemens kept the Tigers off-balance, using the fastball to get ahead early.
“Once you’re staked to a lead like that, you’ve got to get strike one,” Clemens said. “It was fun and I felt good. Give credit to the hitters. They did the work tonight.”
If the Yankees need Clemens to carry the rotation, which they do, he seems up to the task. “They’ve picked me up so many times, I’m not worried about being the guy,” Clemens said. “We’ve got plenty of help here.”
Right now, Clemens, Neagle and Pettitte are all they’ve got.
