The Rocket pitched an absolutely magnificent game but had a series of bad breaks and without any run support ended up with a loss to the Braves on 9/29.

Pitching in quite possibly the last game of his career and in a must win situation for the Astros' playoff hopes, Clemens was magnificent, holding the Braves to just one earned run over six innings while striking out seven.

The sixth inning proved to be the Astros' undoing where they were hit with an improbable series of bad breaks on four consecutive plays:

• Leadoff runner Pete Orr chopped the ball straight down, kicking it up in the air so high that even a terrific barehanded catch and throw by Clemens wasn't enough to prevent the weak infield single
• Instant replays showed that Clemens then picked off Orr, but he was ruled safe
• A hit and run appeared to backfire into a sure double play but the ball ricocheted off Adam Everett's glove for a single
• Clemens got Chipper Jones to ground out weakly to first, giving Berkman a goodchance to throw our the runner at home but he made an error, allowing the first run of the game to score

Clemens was lifted for a pinch hitter trailing 2-1.

The Rocket's final line was two runs (one earned) on six hits over six innings with no walks and seven strikeouts.

The Rocket pitched a phenomenal game on short rest but he ended up with a no-decision against the Cardinals on 9/24.

Clemens has not historically had great success pitching on three days rest but he took the ball in hopes of keeping the Astros' slim playoff hopes alive. He gave up one in the first but was magnificent after that, retiring 12 of the last 13 he faced while holding the Cardinals offense in check. He struck out both Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen amongst his six Ks.

The Rocket's final line was one run on four hits over five innings with one walk and six strikeouts. He left with a 3-1 lead but the bullpen couldn't hold the lead in a game the Astros rallied to win.

The Astros announed The Rocket will start in the series finale against the Cardinals on 9/24.

With the Astros hanging onto their slim chances of making the playoffs Clemens volunteered to go on three days rest. The game will also mark the final home game of the season.

The Rocket made possibly the last home start of his career and turned in yet another phenomenal performance to pickup a win over the Reds on 9/20.

Clemens was sharp from the beginning, not giving up a hit until the third inning. He held the Reds offense scoreless and even had an outstanding day at the plate with a double and two sacrifices.

His final line was no runs one three hits over six innings with three walks and six strikeouts.

The Rocket had a bad first inning and the Astros weren't quite able to recover as he lost to the Phillies on 9/15.

Clemens was clearly struggling with his control as he tried to adjust his mechanics to compensate for the strainged groin he's been battling. With two out in the first he walked the bases loaded before giving up a grand slam on a full count. He was able to shut the Phillies down for the next four innings but the Astros lost the game 4-3.

The Rocket's line was four runs on three hits over five innings with five walks and four strikeouts.

The Rocket will miss his scheduled start on 9/9 due to continued problems with the strained groan he suffered in his previous game. No date has been set for his return but his following scheduled start on 9/15 remains a possibility.

The Rocket was in the midst of another great performance we he had to leave the game after the fifth inning with a right groin strain and ended up with a no-decision agains the Phillies on 9/4.

Clemens gave up one run on just one hit over five innings with two walks and six Ks. He said he felt the strain on his second to the last pitch of the game. His status is currently day to day.

The Rocket pitched seven shutout innings but ended up with a no-decision against the Brewers on 8/30.

Clemens found himself locked in yet another low-scoring pitchers' duel as he matched the Brewers' Dave Bush zero for zero over seven innings. Both pitchers left the game after seven and the Astros were able to scratch a run across in the ninth for their fifth straight win.

The Rocket's final line was no runs on three hits over seven innings with two walks and nine strikeouts.

The Rocket threw another terrific game and picked up his sixth win of the year with a victory over the Pirates on 8/25.

Clemens kept his team in yet another close game, holding onto a 2-1 lead when he left the game.

The Rocket's final line was one run on six hits over six innings with one walk and six Ks.

The Rocket gave his team a much needed win as he pitched another ourstanding game and beat the Brewers on 8/20.

Clemens kept the Milwaukee offense under control throughout yet another close, low-scoring game. He stayed ahead of the Brewers lineup all day long, throwing 80 of his 108 pitches for strikes. He left after seven innings leading 3-1 and the bullpen was able to make that score stand up for the win.

The Rocket's final line was one run on six hits over seven innings with no walks and seven Ks. He is now 5-4 on the year.

The Rocket had his first bad start of the year and ended up with a no-decision against the Cubs on 8/15.

Clemens gave up a season high five runs but appeared to be in line for a win after his offense picked him up and scored four runs to take the lead in the sixth. Unfortunately Lidge gave up a solo home run in the ninth to blow the save in a game the Astros eventually lost in 18 innings.

Clemens hit two batters and was himself hit by a pitch.

The Rocket's final line was five runs on seven hits with one walk and five Ks over six innings.

The Rocket threw another terrific game and picked up his fourth win of the year with a victory over the Pirates on 8/10.

Clemens held the Pirates offense in check, holding Pittsburgh to one run over six innings. He left after allowing the first two runners to reach in the seventh but Chad Qualls came in and did a terrific job of closing out the inning and preserving the lead.

The Rocket's final line was one run on four hits over six plus innings with two walks and five Ks.

The Rocket pitched another solid game and for once got plenty of run support as he picked up a win agianst the Diamondback on 8/5.

The Rocket pitched his best game of the year but after a pitiful collapse by his bullpen was left with a no-decision against the Diamondbacks on 7/30.

Clemens thoroughly dominated the Arizona offense, holding them to one unearned run on just two hits over seven innings. He retired 19 of the last 20 he faced, including 10 in a row to end his outing.

He left with a 5-1 lead, which reliever Chad Qualls promptly blew, giving up four runs in the eighth while recording just one out.

The Rocket's final line was one run (none earned) on two hits over seven innings with no walks and a season high nine strikeouts.

The Rocket turned in another outstanding performance but his teammates proved once again they are unworthy to share the field with him as they were shutout in a loss to the Reds on 7/25.

Clemens went a season high seven innings, giving up two runs on seven hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.

This was the 11th time in the past two seasons the Astros have been shutout in a Clemens start and the fourth time this year they've failed to score while he was in the game.

The Rocket moved into sole posession of eighth place on the all-time wins list after coming out victorious in a great pitching duel with the Cubs and Greg Maddux on 7/19.

In a rare matchup of 300 game winners Clemens had his best outing of the year, shutting out the Cubs over six inings. Maddux was also outstanding, keeping the game at 1-0 before giving up a pair of additional runs in the sixth.

The Rocket's final line was no runs on three hits over six innings with one walk and five Ks.

The win was the 343rd of Clemens' career, moving him past Tim Keefe into sole posession of eighth place on the all-time list.

The Rocket battled his way to another solid outing but his offense was typically ineffective and he ended up with a loss to the Marlins on 7/14.

Clemens labored through much of the start, needing 107 pitches to get through five innings. However he gave up just a pair of runs in the second to keep his team in the game.

The Rocket's final line was two runs on seven hits over five innings with no walks and a season-high seven Ks.

The Rocket had a solid outing but fell victim to a couple of unearned runs and ended up with a no-decision against the Cardinals on 7/8.

Clemens' final line was four runs (two earned) on six hits over six innings with one walk and three strikeouts.

The Rocket picked up his first win of the season with a victory over the Cubs on 7/3.

Clemens labored through much of his start, needing 115 pitches to get through five innings. However his offense scored five runs after he left the game to lock up the victory for him.

The Rocket's final line was two runs on four hits over five innings with three walks and five strikeouts.

The win moved Clemens into a tie with Tim Keefe for eighth place on the all-time list with 342 wins.

The Rocket pitched a fantastic game but, as was so often the case last year, got no run support and ended up with a tough-luck loss against Tigers on 6/27.

Clemens was in mid-season form, needing just 66 pitches to hold the team with baseball's best record scoreless on just three hits over six innings. In the seventh he walked two batters after getting the first out and was lifted from the game. A double and an error later and the Astros trailed 3-0 as they were shutout for the 10th Clemens start in the last two years.

The Rocket's final line was two runs (one earned) on three hits over six and a third innnings with two walks and three strikeouts.

The Rocket pitched solidy in his 2006 debut but ended up with a loss against the Twins on 6/22.

Clemens pitched well, only running into trouble as he labored through a 38 pitch 3rd inning in which he gave up a pair of runs. He left the game after five innings and a 100 pitches trailing 2-0 and the Astros were unable to make up the difference.

The Rocket's final line was two runs on six hits over five innings with two walks and four Ks.

The Rocket complete his final minor league tuneup and pronounced himself ready to join the Astros.

Clemens had a rough first inning, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks, but settled down after that. He finished with a final line of three runs on five hits over five and two-thirds innings with three walks and five Ks.

The Rocket is set to make his debut for the Astros on 6/22 at home against the Twins.

The Rocket's return apperas right on track as he pitched six dominant innings for the Astros' AA franchise on 6/11.

Clemens threw 73 pitches over six innings, did not give up a hit until the fifth and matched a team record with 11 Ks.

The Rocket will make his final minor league start on Friday against the New Orleans Zephyrs.

The Rocket pitched three strong innings for the Lexington Legends, completing the first of three minor league starts scheduled before he joins the Astros later in the month.

Playing alongside his eldest son Koby, Clemens threw 42 of 60 pitches for strikes, giving up one run on three hits while striking out six.

Earlier in the day the Legends' players were greeted with a surprise when they found Clemens had redecorated their locker room, buying several new couches, a big screen TV, a microwave and a VCR and DVD player.

Rocket Returns

The Rocket reached a deal with the Houston Astros to play for the remainder of the 2006 season. Clemens is expected to make a series of minor league starts beginning June 6th and make his first start with the Astros on June 22nd.

The contract is for $22,000,022 for the year, which will be pro-rated over the portion of the season he will play.

The Rocket received his NL Championship Ring with his teammates before the Astros second game of the season. Clemens reiterated his previous statements that he doesn't know if he wants to pitch again.

The Rocket and Team USA lost a close game to Mexico and were eliminated from the World Baseball Classic.

Clemens had good stuff and held the Mexican team to two runs over four and a third innings but the Team USA offense was only able to muster one run on three hits. He struck out four, yielded six hits and did not walk a batter.

In a postgame statement Clemens expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play in the event and offered no hints as to his future plans.

The Rocket pitched Team USA into the second round of the World Baseball Classic with a win over South Africa on 3/10.

Clemens was staked to a huge lead by his offense and cruised through the overmatched South African lineup. He went four and a third innings, giving up one hit while striking out six.

The Rocket will start game three of the World Baseball Classic for Team USA this afternoon. The team can assure its spot in the next round with a win over South Africa.

mlb.com has an article about the start and Clemens' current thoughts on pitching next year.

The Rocket dropped by an Astros mini-camp and threw batting practice.

Clemens said he'd make a decision in the next 12 days regarding his ability to pitch in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.