Houston owner would like Clemens to pitch for Astros this season

Astros owner Jim Crane says there's a possibility 50-year-old Roger Clemens could pitch for Houston this season.

"We haven't heard from Roger, so that's still up in the air," Crane said.

The Astros play the Cubs and Phillies this week. Their only remaining home games after this stretch are against the Pirates and Cardinals -- two teams in postseason contention. Crane says he would not pitch the seven-time Cy Young Award winner against a contender, which leaves this week as the only option.

But Clemens said Monday night the only way he would pitch this season was against a team in contention.

"I can tell you right now and they would know, too, that if I was going to go do it, I am going to pitch against a contender, that's who I want to knock out," Clemens told Houston television KRIV. "Why would I want to waste my time running around and getting in shape? I get over to Minute Maid [Park], I'll crank it up and get it over 90 for a contender. We'll knock them right out of the playoffs. That would be the fun. Pitching against somebody that's not in contention wouldn't be any fun for me."

"It's not going to happen."

Clemens pitched 31/3 scoreless innings in his first start for Sugar Land of the independent Atlantic League and didn't allow a run in 42/3 innings in his second start Friday against the Ducks.

White Sox 6, Tigers 1: Jose Quintana pitched effectively into the eighth inning, as host Chicago increased its AL Central lead to three games over Detroit Monday night. The White Sox had lost seven straight to the Tigers, and in this game, they managed just two hits against Rick Porcello (9-12) and were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position when an error in the sixth by second baseman Omar Infante opened the door for back-to-back homers by Alex Rios and A.J. Pierzynski and four runs.

Brewers 4, Braves 1: Willy Peralta gave up one run in six innings and Norichika Aoki had a two-run double in a four-run seventh for host Milwaukee.

-- AP