Rays/MLB

Houston lacks run support in Clemens' solid start

By TIMES WIRES
Published July 26, 2006

REDS 2,  ASTROS 0

HOUSTON - Aaron Harang outpitched Roger Clemens.

The Astros suffered their 11th shutout when Clemens pitches since the start of last season. They have scored two runs or fewer in four of his seven starts this year.

The Reds, 35-10 when they score first, made it 1-0 in the first. Adam Dunn singled to center, stole second and took third on Rich Aurilia's single off third baseman Aubrey Huff's glove. Scott Hatteberg then singled to center.

In the seventh, Brandon Phillips led off with a double to the wall in left-center and went to third on Royce Clayton's groundout. Jason LaRue walked to bring up Harang.

He bunted down the first-base line. Mike Lamb fielded it and threw to Craig Biggio at first. Phillips hesitated then sprinted home, sliding headfirst to beat Biggio's throw.

Notable: Harang has made 67 straight starts with three or fewer walks.

quotable: "For the last 18 months, we've been asking ourselves that, and we still have no answers." - Lance Berkman on the lack of run support for Clemens

[Last modified July 26, 2006, 06:05:17]