HOUSTON Incident dilutes Rocket's success

Clemens' showing was overshadowed by an ejection from his son's game.
HOUSTON (AP) -- Roger Clemens was in no mood to celebrate the Houston Astros' latest victory or his 42nd birthday.
The Rocket walked purposefully into the clubhouse Tuesday night, bat in his right hand, to make his case. It didn't take long before the anger within him bubbled to the surface.
"This is a shame and it's not even an issue," Clemens said, emotion choking his voice. "It's very scary that it affects my family. A lot of people owe my family an apology."
Clemens pitched seven strong innings on the eve of his birthday in Houston's 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves, but he was clearly upset as he publicly addressed his ejection Saturday from his 10-year-old son's youth league game in Craig, Colo.
Banished to parking lot
After his son was called out on a close play, Clemens was banished to the parking lot after an umpire accused him of spitting a sunflower seed at him.
The Rocket apparently had been waiting to tell his side of the story, making his postgame comments from the coaches' room of the clubhouse instead of the usual spot in front of his locker.
Clemens started out calmly, even joking with reporters about the ejection at first. But he grew more exasperated with each question, finally going on a five-minute tirade.
"I guess I'm a champion seed-spitter," Clemens said. "I was probably a good 20 yards from the field. I've been able to see ... comments like I was nose-to-nose and toe-to-toe and arguing. I was sitting on a bucket talking to fans and signing in between."
Denies being tossed
He denied even being tossed from the game, saying that he went to the car -- as he always does -- toward the end of the game and didn't even see the disputed play.
"They did not ask me to leave. I did not know that I was even supposedly thrown out," Clemens said. "I go to my car every day to plan my escape route after I sign.
"One of the coaches told me that they threw me out and I said 'Why did they throw me out?' I'm not even a coach or even on the field. One of the coaches told me that he got nervous and his (umpire's) lips were quivering because he was nervous or he messed up or something."
Since leaving Colorado, Clemens said he's received two apologies -- he declined to identify who made them -- and hundreds of calls from people expressing dismay about his treatment while there.
"We got the great phone calls from the people that mattered that were there and they were just appalled by the entire situation," Clemens said. "One guy just wanted to get his name in the paper."
A short time later, Clemens sighed deeply as if to calm himself then hurriedly walked out of the clubhouse.
Impressive outing
Clemens' postgame fury overshadowed another impressive outing on the mound.
He allowed four hits in seven strong innings, leaving with a 2-1 lead after walking the first two batters in the eighth. Dan Miceli (4-5) retired Charles Thomas on a forceout, then loaded the bases with a walk to Marcus Giles and allowed an RBI grounder to Chipper Jones.
Miceli reloaded the bases with a walk to Johnny Estrada, then struck out Adam LaRoche to end the threat.
Clemens, who struck out six and walked three, remained at 322 victories, two behind Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton for 12th place on the career list. He gave up two runs, one earned.
"It's one of his best outings that I've seen," manager Phil Garner said.
Pitching well
The Rocket is 2-0 in four starts since the All-Star game, when he gave up six first-inning runs before his hometown fans in the NL's 9-4 loss.
"I haven't seen him in awhile," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said, "and it's OK with me if I don't see him anymore."
Houston went back ahead in the bottom half off Chris Reitsma (4-3). Morgan Ensberg doubled, Mike Lamb had a pinch-hit single, and Jose Vizcaino hit an RBI grounder, with Lamb barreling into second baseman Marcus Giles to prevent what would have been an inning-ending double play.
Brad Lidge struck out the final three batters for his 12th save in 14 chances.
Notes
Clemens had a leadoff single in the fifth, his seventh hit of the season in 46 at-bats. ... Astros 1B Jeff Bagwell was back in the starting lineup after missing two straight games for the first time since May 1998, when he was on the 15-day DL with a knee laceration. ... Atlanta stole a season-high three bases. ... Lidge leads the majors in strikeouts by a reliever with 97.