Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Clement will try to get back on track Wednesday at Wrigley Field when he faces Houston's Roger Clemens.
You never know what to expect. On Tuesday, Cubs left fielder Moises Alou muffed a catch, then booted the ball into the ivy, thinking he could get a ground-rule double. Instead, two runs scored.
"They say if you're around the game long enough, you'll see everything," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said.
The Cubs rallied for a 7-5 win over the Astros to take a 6-4 lead in the season series.
Clement is just happy to be home. He loves pitching at Wrigley, and is 6-3 at the friendly confines with a 2.49 ERA. He's scuffled a bit in June, going 1-3, and would like to end the month on a good note.
The right-hander pitched well in his last start against St. Louis except for one inning when he gave up four runs, one earned. The Cardinals got some help that inning because of a Cubs error.
Clemens is 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA in two career starts at Wrigley, including last year's Interleague loss to Kerry Wood and the Cubs when the Rocket pitched for the New York Yankees.
7-6, 2.98 ERA in 2004
0-1, 5.40 ERA vs. HOU in 2004
3-6, 6.56 ERA vs. HOU lifetime
HOU: RHP Roger Clemens
10-2, 2.73 ERA in 2004
1-1, 4.15 ERA vs. CHI in 2004
1-2, 3.72 ERA vs. CHI lifetime
Player to watch
Sammy Sosa is 2-for-16 lifetime against Clemens, with one home run -- the first of Sosa's career, way back on June 21, 1989. Sosa also has struck out six times against the right-hander.
Quotable
"It's weird as heck out there in left. It's a twilight zone in the field." -- Cubs manager Dusty BakerOn the Internet MLB.TV Gameday AudioGamedayOfficial game notesOn television
CHI: Fox Sports Net; ESPN
HOU: Fox Sports Southwest; ESPN
On radio
CHI: WGN 720 AM
HOU: KTRH 740 AM
Quick hits
Moises Alou is 0-for-7 against Clemens, Michael Barrett is 1-for-10, Derrek Lee is 5-for-9, Corey Patterson 1-for-9, Aramis Ramirez 3-for-5, and Todd Walker 14-for-34. ... Clement needs to watch out for Brad Ausmus, who is 6-for-13 against the right-hander; Jeff Bagwell, who is 10-for-25; Lance Berkman 7-for-17; and Jeff Kent 7-for-22 with two home runs. ... The Cubs have 21 come-from-behind wins, and are 15-11 in June.
On deck
Thursday vs. Houston, 1:20 p.m. CT
Friday vs. Chicago White Sox, 2:20 p.m. CT
Saturday vs. Chicago White Sox, 12:20 p.m. CT
Sunday vs. Chicago White Sox, 7:05 p.m. CT
Monday at Milwaukee, 1:05 p.m. CT
Tuesday at Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m. CT
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
News
Matt Clement / P
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