NEW YORK, May 4 (UPI) -- Barry Zito, the reigning Cy Young Award winner, bested Roger Clemens, the only pitcher to have earned the honor six times, as the Oakland Athletics edged the New York Yankees, 2-0, Sunday in the rubber game of their three-game series.
Zito (5-2) got offensive support from Scott Hatteberg, who homered in the first inning, and Miguel Tejada, who delivered a two-out RBI single in the third. But it was the Oakland defense that preserved his league-leading 45th win since the start of the 2001 season.
The 24-year-old lefthander, who already owns the best winning percentage (.732) ever among pitchers with 50 wins, got a couple of key defensive plays from catcher Mark Johnson and Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez.
Clemens (4-2) pitched well but failed to notch career win No. 298. The 40-year-old righthander allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings. The active leader in wins, innings, strikeouts and complete games walked two and struck out six but was hurt by an error by shortstop Erick Almonte in the third.
