Clemens tries for historic No. 300

NEW YORK, May 26 (UPI) -- Weather-permitting, veteran pitcher Roger Clemens of the New York Yankees goes after his 300th career victory Monday afternoon against the Boston Red Sox.

If he gets the win, it will be a huge irony. Not only is Boston, the Yankees' most-intense rival, Clemens began his major league career with the Red Sox. Also, he got the bulk of his 299 wins as a member of the Red Sox, 107.

He will also be trying to help the Yankees stop a home-field losing streak. The Yankees have lost seven in a row at home, and 11 of their last 12 overall. The seven-game losing streak is their longest since a 10-game skid from May 26-June 29, 1986.

With the loss, New York fell to 8-15 in May, assuring the club of its first losing month since September 2000.

"The irony is we need a win and Roger is just the guy to send out there to do it for us," Manager Joe Torre said after Sunday's 5-3 loss to Toronto, "He's got a lot of things on his plate, but hopefully he'll lift some of the pressure off us (Monday)."

If and when he gets No. 300, Clemens will be the first pitcher from the era of the five-man rotation to do it. He has averaged about 30 starts a season, and is a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame, where he will join the likes of Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, and Don Sutton, among others.

"We're licking our wounds right now," Torre said. "Our pride is a little hurt, and we're taking our licks right now. It's not just about 300 for him. I think he'd like to pick up the whole team.''

Rain is in the Memorial Day forecast in New York City.