KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Houston Astros right-hander Roger Clemens
left Friday night's game with the Detroit Tigers after just 1 1/3
innings with a strained right hamstring.
Clemens is listed as day-to-day.
The seven-time National League Cy Young award winner said he has
experienced tightness in the hamstring for the past couple of days.
"I've got a problem with my hammy, but other than that, I feel
pretty good," Clemens said. "I've felt the tightness for about
two days now, and I hoped that it would have gone away. You need to
know the difference between being hurt and something just hurting,
so we'll treat it and it will get better.
"I don't believe it is hurt. If it continues to be problem, I'm
sure we'll continue to evaluate it," he said.
It was Clemens' first start in an actual game since March 4
against Cleveland. He threw 60 pitches in a simulated game on March
9.
Clemens was hit hard by the Tigers, allowing seven hits and
seven earned runs, including two home runs. He said he felt a
twinge backing up home plate after an RBI single by Carlos Guillen,
and Astros manager Phil Garner took him out.
"Once I backed up home, it really grabbed me," Clemens said.
"Phil said there was no way I should chance it out there. I'd be
crazy to sit out there and force it right now."
Clemens said he'll miss his next start if the hamstring isn't
any better by that time.
"I'm really not too concerned about it right now," he said.
"But I can't sit out there and push. The fastballs I did throw
were nice and firm. Most of the balls that were hit were
change-ups, and we're working really hard on that. If I have to
miss a start, I'll miss one and we'll go from there."
Astros No. 2 starter Andy Pettitte, who made just 15 starts last
season due to a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow, made his
first start of the season in a game Friday against Cleveland,
allowing four hits and no runs.