Clemens Gets Astros a Wild Tie

The Houston Astros were guaranteed at least a tie in the National League wild-card race after another gritty performance by Roger Clemens

Clemens got a little run support and gave up one run in seven innings while pitching on a still sore left hamstring, leading the host Astros over the Chicago Cubs, 3-1, Saturday and putting Houston on the brink of a return to the playoffs.

“It’s good we still control our own fate, but we’ve got to take care of business tomorrow,” Lance Berkman said.

Roy Oswalt (19-12) starts today for Houston. But if the Astros lose and Philadelphia beats Washington, Houston would go to Philadelphia for a one-game tiebreaker playoff Monday.

“Now, we sit back and watch Roy do his thing,” Clemens said.

Jason Lane had a run-scoring single in the sixth inning that put the Astros ahead, 2-1. That was plenty for Clemens (13-8), whose 1.87 earned-run average is the best in the major leagues -- and the lowest of his major league career.

Clemens gave up six hits and struck out five, including his 4,500th, before being lifted for a pinch-hitter. It was his 341st victory.

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Philadelphia 8, Washington 4 -- Chase Utley homered twice at Washington, Ryan Howard hit an upper-deck shot and a three-run double and the Phillies sent the NL wild-card race down to the last day of the regular season.

Brett Myers (13-8) had a career-high 12 strikeouts and gave up six hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings.

Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins hit a double on the game’s first pitch to extend his hitting streak to 35 games, tied for the ninth-longest in major league history.

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St. Louis 9, Cincinnati 6 -- Larry Walker hit two home runs at St. Louis and the Cardinals moved to within one victory of becoming this season’s only 100-win team.

Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer, his 41st, with one out in the first inning.

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Arizona 2, San Francisco 1 -- Royce Clayton hit a tiebreaking double, his fourth hit of the game at San Francisco, and Arizona won its seventh consecutive game.

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New York 3, Colorado 1 -- David Wright hit his 27th home run, helping the host Mets to their 12th win in 15 games.

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Pittsburgh 5, Milwaukee 1 -- At Pittsburgh, Kip Wells (8-18) avoided becoming the Pirates’ first 19-game loser in 20 years.

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Florida 6, Atlanta 4 -- Josh Willingham and Lenny Harris each had two-run singles in the eighth for the Marlins in a game at Miami that had a rain delay of more than three hours.