Clemens rockets to first 20-1 start in MLB history

CHICAGO (AP) -- On another day and at another time, Roger Clemens hopes he will be able to enjoy his latest milestone. Right now, it's not that important.

"It just doesn't take on as much meaning as it would have because of the circumstances," Clemens said Wednesday night after he became the first pitcher in major league history to go 20-1, leading the New York Yankees over the Chicago White Sox 6-3.

It had been only eight days since terrorists attacked New York and Washington, and Clemens wasn't ready to celebrate a baseball achievement.

"It's a different feeling," he said. "There are a lot of things we take for granted and I didn't know how I'd feel once I got out on the mound. It's been an unbelievable week with everything."

The 39-year-old right-hander reached 20 wins for the sixth time in his career and became the oldest 20-game winner in the AL since Early Wynn did it in 1959, just shy of his 40th birthday.

The Rocket, struggling at times with his pitching rhythm, allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings and struck out a season-low one. It was his first start since Sept. 5, when he beat Toronto and joined Rube Marquard as the only pitchers since 1900 to go 19-1.

His scheduled start against Boston on Sept. 10 was rained out, and the rest of last week's games were postponed.

	Highest Winning Percentage for 20-Game Winners
	Player	Year/team	W-L	Pct.
	Clemens	'01 NYY	20-1	.952
	Guidry	'78 NYY	25-3	.893
	Grove	'31 Phila	31-4	.886
	Roe	'51 Brook	22-3	.880
	Wood	'12 Bos	34-5	.872
	Cone	'88 NYM	20-3	.870
	Donovan	'07 Det	25-4	.862
	Ford	'61 NYY	25-4	.862
	Gooden	'85 NYM	24-4	.857
	Clemens	'86 Bos	24-4	.857
	Martinez	'99 Bos	23-4	.852

After the attacks, Clemens drove 23 hours from New York to take his wife and some friends back to Texas. Then, he rejoined a team trying to deal with a tragedy that rocked the city it represents.

"It just doesn't have the same feeling it would have two weeks ago," said Clemens, who was hugged by his teammates and got the game ball. "It's a special win and maybe some time down the road I'll take time to reflect on it."

Five years after Boston general manager Dan Duquette said Clemens was in the "twilight" of his career and let him go, Clemens became the AL's first 20-game winner and lowered the Yankees' magic number to five for clinching their fourth straight AL East title.

He has won 16 straight decisions, his only loss coming May 20 at Seattle. Clemens imporved his career record to 280-143 and is the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award, which he already has won five times. He also moved within five of Bert Blyleven (3,701) for third on the career strikeout list.

"I've been around for a long time and to win 20 games at this stage of my career is definitely a blessing," he said. "It's been nice. A lot of work has paid off."

Clemens, who threw 107 pitches, left to a standing ovation from the crowd of 18,465 after allowing an RBI single in the seventh to Chris Singleton that pulled Chicago to 4-3. Jay Witasick came in and got Royce Clayton to hit into an inning-ending double play.

"To go 20-1 at his age and being a power pitcher really says a lot about how special he is," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

`He goes out without his best stuff and holds you down until the offense gets him some runs," Chicago's second baseman Ray Durham said. "That's why they call him The Rocket."

Mike Stanton got the first out of the eighth and Mariano Rivera finished for his career-high 46th save, tying the team record set by Dave Righetti in 1986.

Derek Jeter homered twice, including a two-run, go-ahead shot in the fifth, as the Yankees won their second straight since baseball resumed and stretched their winning streak to six.

Scott Brosius had an RBI single following a walk and single by Shane Spencer as the Yankees went ahead 1-0 in the second. Paul Konerko hit his 31st homer to tie the game in the bottom half.

Jeter's first homer put New York up 2-1 in the third. Magglio Ordonez had a bloop double and Konerko and Jeff Liefer followed with singles as Chicago tied it at 2-2 in the fourth.

Jeter's 20th homer followed a single by Chuck Knoblauch off Chicago starter Gary Glover (4-3) and made it 4-2. Knoblauch added a two-run single in the ninth to make it 6-3.

Game notes
A moment of silence was observed before the game for the victims of the terrorist attacks. Manager Joe Torre said the Yankees feel they are now playing for more than themselves and their usual fans. "We're feeling more obligated to all the people of New York," Torre said, wearing a NYPD hat in the dugout as batting practice was rained out. ... The White Sox, in light of the terrorist attacks, have canceled their Fall Instructional League, which was slated to begin Wednesday in Tucson, Ariz. ... Jeter's multihomer game was his first this season and third of his career. ... Glover went six innings, allowing four runs and six hits, while striking out a career-high seven. ... Clemens is 20-9 against the White Sox. ... He had his lowest strikeout total since June 14 last year against Boston _ when he left after one inning with a strained groin. Clemens is 29-3 since he was activated from the DL on July 2 last year.