BASEBALL ROUNDUP | News and notes

Steroids: Roger Clemens failed to convince Congress he was telling the truth. So the leaders of a House committee want the Justice Department to investigate if the star pitcher lied under oath about using performance-enhancing drugs. In a letter sent Wednesday to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman Henry Waxman and ranking Republican Tom Davis said Clemens’ testimony that he “never used anabolic steroids or human growth hormone warrants further investigation.” The seven-time Cy Young Award winner gave a sworn deposition behind closed doors Feb. 5, then spoke alongside his accuser, former personal trainer Brian McNamee, at a public hearing Feb. 13. “We are not in a position to reach a definitive judgment as to whether Mr. Clemens lied to the committee,” Waxman and Davis wrote. “Our only conclusion is that significant questions have been raised about Mr. Clemens’s truthfulness.” The letter noted Clemens’ testimony was “directly contradicted” by the sworn statements of McNamee, who said he injected Clemens with steroids and HGH at least 16 times from 1998 to 2001. Waxman and Davis also pointed to the deposition and affidavit of Clemens’ good friend and former teammate, Andy Pettitte, who told the committee Clemens “admitted to him in 1999 or 2000 that he had taken human growth hormone.”

Brewers: Milwaukee outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. was hit in the nose by a baseball while attempting to steal second base during an intrasquad game. Gwynn was attended to by team trainers on the field for about five minutes after being struck by catcher Vinny Rottino’s throw in the fourth inning. Gwynn, son of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, had minor swelling on the left side of his face, but was able to finish the five-inning game. “I had trouble catching my breath for a minute,” Gwynn said. “It felt like I got a stinger.”

Cardinals: Utilityman Scott Spiezio was cut by the Cardinals, released after being charged in a six-count complaint involving drunken driving and assault in a December car crash. “We had heard some things about this,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. “Ultimately nothing was ever confirmed to the level it was today. To have this warrant put out there, it completely changes the landscape of what we’re dealing with.” A warrant was issued Tuesday for Spiezio, who missed more than a month last year while getting treatment for substance abuse. The warrant was recalled Wednesday after Spiezio’s attorney appeared in court, and the arraignment was continued to March 26. The Orange County district attorney charged Spiezio with misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence, driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more, hit and run, aggravated assault, assault and battery. “We anticipate a successful resolution to this misdemeanor matter,” attorney Paul Meyer said.

Associated Press