Monday, Sept. 20, 2004 | 6:26 a.m.
Roger Clemens knew he had no margin for error.
"It had to be this way," he said. "I knew I had to be mistake-free."
Clemens allowed two hits and struck out 10 in eight innings, earning his 328th victory with the Houston Astros' 1-0 win over Milwaukee on Sunday night.
Clemens (18-4) retired his final 13 batters to help the Astros stay within a game of NL wild-card leader San Francisco. Houston. which has won 12 straight home games for the first time since 1981, also trails Chicago by a half-game.
Brad Lidge struck out the side in the ninth for his 25th save in 29 chances.
In other NL games, it was: San Francisco 4, San Diego 2; Chicago 5, Cincinnati 1; Florida 3, Atlanta 0; Los Angeles 7, Colorado 6; Arizona 3, St. Louis 2; and Philadelphia 7, Montreal 2. Pittsburgh swept a doubleheader from New York, winning 1-0 and 6-1.
At Houston, Clemens moved into sole possession of 10th place on the career wins list, one ahead of John Clarkson and one behind Steve Carlton.
"Every five days the man is just incredible," teammate Jeff Bagwell said. "We've never come across anything like him. It's nice to be able to just watch him."
Houston scored in the third when Jose Vizcaino came home on Clemens' double-play grounder. Milwaukee's Doug Davis (11-12) allowed four hits in seven innings.
Giants 4, Padres 2
At San Francisco, J.T. Snow had four RBIs to help the Giants win for the seventh time in eight games.
Dustin Hermanson (6-6) got the final four outs for the victory. Scott Linebrink (7-3) lost for the Padres, 3 1/2 games behind the Giants.
Cubs 5, Reds 1
At Cincinnati, Moises Alou hit a tiebreaking two-run double off Danny Graves (1-6) in the ninth as the Cubs rallied for their sixth win in seven games.
Neifi Perez opened the inning with a bunt and reached when third baseman Ryan Freel's throw pulled first baseman Sean Casey off the bag for an error. Reds manager Dave Miley argued the play and was ejected.
Jon Leicester (5-0) pitched a perfect eighth.
Marlins 3, Braves 0
At Miami, Ismael Valdez (13-8) allowed two hits in six innings, Jeff Conine drove in all three runs and Florida averted a series sweep, remaining 4 1/2 games behind San Francisco.
Conine hit a two-run homer in the sixth off Russ Ortiz (14-9), then singled home an unearned run in the eighth. Armando Benitez completed the three-hitter with a perfect ninth for his 43rd save, matching a career high.
Dodgers 7, Rockies 6
At Denver, Shawn Green homered on a two-out, 0-2 pitch off Shawn Chacon (1-9) in the ninth, and Los Angeles overcame a five-run deficit for the second time in three games to maintain a 2 1/2-game lead over second-place San Francisco in the NL West. Six of the Dodgers' final 13 games are against the Giants.
Yhency Brazoban (2-0) pitched one inning, and Eric Gagne pitched a perfect ninth for his 42nd save. Dodgers starter Edwin Jackson allowed five runs in 4 2-3 innings.
Diamondbacks 3, Cardinals 2
At St. Louis, Rick Ankiel pitched two hitless innings with one walk and four strikeouts - striking out the side in the fifth on 14 pitches.
Ankiel, who has battled wildness and injuries, was making his first appearance in St. Louis since May 10, 2001.
A day after the Cardinals clinched their third NL Central title in five seasons, Larry Walker hit a two-run homer, but Scott Hairston's two-run single overcame a 2-1 deficit.
Michael Gosling won his first big league decision, allowing two runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. Greg Aquino worked the ninth for his 13th save.
Cardinals starter Jeff Suppan (15-8) combined with his bullpen on a three-hitter.
Phillies 7, Expos 2
At Philadelphia, Kevin Millwood, sidelined since Aug. 5 because of a sprained ligament and tendon in his right elbow, allowed one run and three hits in two innings.
Gavin Floyd (2-0) won despite allowing four hits and five walks in three innings. Scott Downs (3-6) gave up five runs and eight hits in four innings. Montreal stranded 13 runners, leaving the bases loaded three times.
Pirates 1, Mets 0, 1st game
Pirates 6, Mets 1, 2nd game
At Pittsburgh, Jason Bay hit a two-run homer off former teammate Kris Benson (12-12) to set a team rookie record with 24, and Dave Williams (2-1) pitched six shutout innings as the Pirates completed a doubleheader sweep.
Pittsburgh won the opener on Humberto Cota's homer off Aaron Heilman (1-2), and a combined three-hitter by Ryan Vogelsong (6-12), Salomon Torres and Jose Mesa, who got his 40th save.
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