Rocket steps up, Houston holds on

The 42-year-old Clemens helped the Astros gain a season-saving 5-2 victory.
HOUSTON (AP) -- Roger Clemens isn't done yet, and neither are the Houston Astros.
Putting aside talk that this might be his final game, Clemens focused on something more important -- pitching to save Houston's season.
Clemens slowed down St. Louis for seven innings, closer Brad Lidge came in to finish off the Cardinals and Houston won 5-2 Saturday, cutting its deficit to 2-1 in the NL championship series.
"It was a must-win for us," Clemens said.
There was a chance this might have been Clemens' farewell, especially if the Cardinals win the next two games and he decides to retire -- for real, this time.
Yet at 42, and possibly in line for his seventh Cy Young award, he's got his eyes on a bigger prize: pitching his hometown team to its first trip to the World Series.
"Obviously, I want to pitch again," he said. "Not once did I ever think that could be my last start."
Homer-happy
Jeff Kent's two-run homer capped a three-run burst in the first inning. Carlos Beltran homered yet again, connecting along with Lance Berkman in the eighth to further highlight a series featuring sluggers.
Clemens overcame a first-inning homer by Larry Walker and a later shot by Jim Edmonds, lasting long enough so that Houston manager Phil Garner could avoid using his shaky middle relievers.
"What you saw today was exactly what he's done for us so many times," Garner said. "He finds a way to get it done."
No team in baseball's postseason has ever rallied from a 3-0 hole. The Astros won't have to try, either, and will start 20-game winner Roy Oswalt against Jason Marquis on Sunday in hopes of leveling the best-of-seven matchup.
Clemens completed his outing by striking out pinch-hitter Roger Cedeno, then hopped off the mound and pumped his fist. He stalked and snarled his way back to the dugout, muttering to himself all the way.
Clemens' wife, Debbie, celebrated by double high-fiving a friend in the stands and the fans roared right along.
"No matter my age or what I've done in the past, you want to make a good showing," he said.
With the crowd raising a ruckus, Lidge relieved Clemens and blew away the Cardinals, striking out Walker and Game 2 star Scott Rolen.
"When it was 3-2 and we were in the middle of the game and everybody was cruising along, we felt like that we had a good shot to get something done," Rolen said. "They just kept making pitches."
Insurance run
Beltran added insurance when he homered in his fourth straight postseason game, tying the record set by Jeffrey Leonard in the 1987 NLCS. The solo shot was Beltran's seventh homer in the playoffs and, combined with Berkman's drive, gave Lidge extra room to work.
"This is what we were expecting," Beltran said.
Making his first appearance in a week, Lidge walked a batter and hit one in the ninth before striking out pinch-hitter John Mabry to end it.
"It felt great. And I'm definitely available for tomorrow," Lidge said.
The Astros won for the 20th time in their last 21 games at Minute Maid Park, and assured themselves of playing at least twice more at home.
"The atmosphere is electric here right now," Lidge said. "We've been playing with a lot of confidence here."
Houston also continued to lead in the home-run derby, hitting nine in two games to St. Louis' seven.
"Dangerous lineups and mistakes, guys are punishing," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "They're not popping any of them up."
Jeff Suppan did fine as the Cardinals' starter, but the result was the same. He was 1-4 against the Astros this season, including 0-3 in head-to-head duels with Clemens.
Clemens became the oldest starting pitcher to win a postseason game -- he bettered the mark he set earlier this month when he beat Atlanta in the first round.
Clemens gave up four hits, struck out seven and walked two. He admitted a day earlier that he probably would be "anxious" about this assignment, and clearly was not at his overpowering best -- at least not at the start.
Slow start
He didn't challenge hitters in the early innings and certainly didn't threaten them with anything up-and-in. Despite several chances, he didn't put away any batters with two strikes until fanning Edgar Renteria in the fourth.
"I came out a little slow," Clemens said. "As the game went on, I was sharper. It worked out."
ST. LOUISHOUSTON
abrhbiabrhbi
Wmack 2b4000Biggio lf4010
LWalkr rf4111Lidge p0000
Pujols 1b4010CBeltrn cf3221
Rolen 3b3010Bgwell 1b4010
Edmnd cf3111Brkmn rf4222
Rnteria ss4000JKent 2b3112
RSndrs lf3000Brntlett ss0000
Mtheny c3010Ensbrg 3b3000
MAndn ph0000JVzcno ss4000
Suppan p2000Asmus c3000
Cedeno ph1000Clmens p2000
Haren p0000OPlmro lf1010
King p0000
Eldred p0000
Mabry ph1000
Totals32252Totals31585
St. Louis110000000--2
Houston30000002x--5
DP--St. Louis 1. LOB--St. Louis 7, Houston 5. 2B--CBeltran (1). HR--LWalker (2), Edmonds (1), CBeltran (3), Berkman (2), JKent (2).
IPHRERBBSO
St. Louis
Suppan L,0-1653323
Haren1 1-321101
King1-311101
Eldred1-300010
Houston
Clemens W,1-0742227
Lidge S,1210015
HBP--by Lidge (MAnderson). WP--Clemens. Umpires--Home, Gary Darling; First, Mike Winters; Second, Angel Hernandez; Third, Ed Rapuano; Left, Tim Welke; Right, Eric Cooper. T--2:57. A--42,896.
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