Roger Clemens Last Game?

With the Braves - Astros Friday game potentially the last game ever for future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens, I took the boys to Turner Field for one last 2006 game. We got a late start, as Will was studying with classmates in Dunwoody. I finished up my month-end work and left early, and picked up Will's friend Joel Norman on the way home. Then I tried a new route that didn't work, that delayed us more. Still, we made it inside Turner shortly after 6:30...in time for Matthew for hit a couple of home runs at Tooner Field before the 7 pm start.

Joel had borrowed Will's navy Chipper jersey, so we were decked out...Will had his usual red Francoeur jersey, Matthew his white Chipper jersey, and I sported my grey Milwaukee era jersey. The boys danced and cheered, but were unsuccessful in their attempts to land on the big screen. We made it to our seats near the foul pole in time for a police ceremony, where Bobby Cox was named an honorary police chief. He replaced his Braves cap with the police cap, a humorous moment. Police motorcycles lined the warning track. The crowd of 31,034 was late arriving, as cars continued to file into the parking lot in the 5th inning. When Clemens made his first few pitches, there were hundreds of flashes from the cameras in the stands.

Clemens pitched well, scattering six hits in as many innings, only allowing two runs in the sixth. Pete Orr chopped high to the third base side of the mound. Clemens barehanded it, but Orr was safe on a close play. Renteria lined one off shortstop Adam Everett's glove into center, and Orr scampering around to third on the play. Chipper grounded down the line to first-baseman Lance Berkman, who charged the ball. His attempted backhand stab missed, and Orr scored. Renteria scored on Andruw's single to center. Clemens finished with no walks and seven strikeouts. His strikeout of Chipper in the fourth was the 4600th of his career. Clemens threw 94 pitches...61 strikes.

With two out in the top of the seventh and a runner on first, the crowd had started to buzz when pinch-hitter Chris Burke moved into the on deck circle. When he was announced, the crowd had already begun the applaud Clemens. When Roger bounced up to the top of the steps and doffed his cap, the crowd stood and continued to applaud. Clemens pointed in appreciation to the crowd, then across to the Braves dugout, and then to the players on the field.

But it was Braves pitcher Chuck James that stole the show, earning his 11th win. He had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning, and only allowed four hits in seven innings, including a solo home run by Craig Biggio in the seventh. Everitt had an infield roller that died in the grass, and Endsberg had a pop to center that Andruw didn't get a good jump on. James walked two and struck out eight, including the last two he faced...throwing 109 pitches...71 strikes.

Is this the new Jeff Francoeur? He saw 19 pitches in his four plate appearances, going 1 - 3 with a walk. His single was to right field. The Astros just about played a shift on Brian McCann. Poor Adam LaRoche...he struck out all four times, though he worked the count...seeing 26 pitches in four at bats. Renteria and Chipper hit back to back homers in the 8th. When Andruw stepped in, the pitching coach trotted out to the mound for a visit. Feet wide, Andruw stayed in the box for a long time, before backing out. He then lined an 0 - 2 pitch that the shortstop speared.

The Braves had a strike'em out / throw'em out double play in the 5th, when McCann threw out Everitt at third.

Wickman came in to pitch the 9th, getting two quick fly outs before allowing two hits, before striking out pinch hitter Aubrey Huff to end the game. We moved down to the lower deck for an above average fireworks show...with many effects I'd never witnessed before. Traffic jammed downtown after the game, with Braves fans mixing with Thrashers fans, as well as football fans in town for the Saturday Florida A&M / Tennessee State game.