HOUSTON, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Aubrey Huff hit a three-run homer and Roger Clemens made possibly his last regular-season home start Sunday as the Houston Astros beat St. Louis, 7-3.
Pitching on three days' rest, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner left the game at the start of the sixth inning to a standing ovation from the crowd, and came back from the dressing room for a current call when the crowd would not let up. Clemens -- who has not said whether he will pitch again next year -- pitched five innings Sunday, giving up one run on four hits with a walk and six strikeouts, amd retiring 12 of the last 13 batters he faced.
Chad Qualls (7-3) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win.
Lance Berkman and Brad Ausmus each drove in two runs for the Astros, who have won five straight and trail the first-place Cardinals by 3 1/2 games in the NL Central. Houston trails Philadelphia by five games in the NL wild-card chase.
Scott Rolen, John Rodriguez and Ronnie Belliard each drove in a run and Josh Hancock (3-3) got the loss for the Cardinals, who dropped their fifth straight game.
