Roger Clemens struck out seven in six innings, leading the Yankees to a 9-3 win over the Pirates in his long-awaited season debut. Alex Rodriguez: “It was awesome.” Clemens’ 4,611 career Ks passed Randy Johnson for second place behind Nolan Ryan (5,714).
Jon Lieber struck out 11 in his 25th career complete game, a 4-0 win over the Royals. After allowing a leadoff single, the Phillies starter struck out the next six batters while retiring 11 straight. He went to a three-ball count only twice while finishing with no walks.
Dan Haren won his seventh straight decision with a 6-0 win over the Giants. He lowered his majors-best ERA from 1.70 to 1.58, struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter for the fourth time this year. In fact, Haren is pitching so well the Athletics hardly miss …
THREE DOWN
… Barry Zito, who moved across the San Francisco Bay to the Giants after seven seasons with the A’s. He lasted only four innings against his former club, throwing 106 pitches. “Guys got on base, weird things happened,” Zito said. “I’m certainly not satisfied.”
Twins ace Johan Santana usually doesn’t discover his dominant rhythm until June, but that hasn’t happened yet this year. The left-hander fell to 6-6. Santana gave up his 13th homer in 13 starts; he gave up 24 in 34 starts in both of his Cy Young seasons in 2004, ’06.
Jeremy Guthrie had another solid start, but the Orioles again failed to provide him with enough offense in a 3-2 loss to the Rockies. The right-hander hasn’t permitted more than three runs and has a 1.76 ERA in his eight starts. But he’s 2-1 with five no-decisions.
