Houston (8-8) at St Louis (10-5), 2:15 pm EDT
ST. LOUIS -- Houston's Roger Clemens squares off
against St. Louis' Mark Mulder in an impressive pitching
matchup as the National League Central division rivals clash
Saturday afternoon in the second game of a three-game series.
Clemens (1-0, 0.43 ERA), a future Hall of Famer, has not allowed
a run in his last two starts (14 innings) but did not factor
into either decision as the Astros lost a pair of 1-0
extra-inning decisions. The 42-year-old righthander has 329
career wins and needs one to pass Steve Carlton for sole
possession of ninth place on baseball's career list.
Clemens is opposed by Mark Mulder (1-1, 4.74), a two-time
All-Star who is coming off his best start with St. Louis.
Mulder allowed just an unearned run in eight innings Monday
against Pittsburgh, picking up his first National League victory
after accumulating 81 wins in five years with Oakland.
The Cardinals have won seven of eight, including Friday's 8-7
triumph over the Astros. Jason Marquis recorded his third
straight victory, allowing five runs in 5 2/3 innings. He
chipped in with a single and a double, scoring twice in the
victory.
St. Louis has taken two of three meetings between the squads
this season.