Strike three for Roger Clemens.
The Rocket remained stuck on career victory No. 299 Saturday, watching his bullpen blow his lead with its very first pitch and delay his entry into one of baseball's most exclusive fraternities.
Kerry Wood pitched a gem and substitute Eric Karros hit a three-run homer to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 5-2 victory over the New York Yankees.
Karros was in the game only after a scary collision in the fourth inning sent Cubs first baseman Choi Hee-seop to the hospital. Choi was in fair condition with a concussion.
The traveling road show that's become Clemens' pursuit of 300 now goes right back to where it started May 26 -- Yankee Stadium. Clemens (6-4) will face St. Louis on Friday night, trying to become the 21st pitcher -- and first since Nolan Ryan in 1990 -- with 300 victories.
In his fifth career start, Wood matched Clemens' 20-strikeout record. Clemens has done it twice.
Giants 7, Tigers 5
In San Francisco, Barry Bonds hit one of San Francisco's four home runs and Jason Schmidt pitched seven strong innings.
Andres Galarraga, Jose Cruz Jr. and Marquis Grissom also homered for the Giants, who improved to 8-3 on their season-long 12-game homestand. They wrap it up Sunday with a chance to sweep the struggling Tigers. Bonds' two-run homer in the eighth gave him 628 for his career and 15 this season.
Orioles 8, Cardinals 1
In St. Louis, Deivi Cruz homered twice and Sidney Ponson pitched his second complete game in three starts, leading Baltimore past St. Louis.
Melvin Mora and Jeff Conine also homered for Baltimore, which snapped a four-game skid and ended the Cardinals' five-game winning streak.
Royals 13, Rockies 11
Royals 9, Rockies 5
In Denver, Mike Sweeney hit a two-run double and Aaron Guiel had a career-high four hits in the second game as Kansas City completed its first doubleheader sweep on the road in 12 years.
Sweeney hit a grand slam in the opener as the Royals built a 12-1 lead, then withstood a late Colorado comeback. He finished with four hits and six RBIs on the day.
Carlos Beltran had a two-run homer and three RBIs in the nightcap. The Royals had 30 hits in the two games for their first doubleheader sweep away from home since Aug. 13, 1991, at Yankee Stadium.
Angels 9, Marlins 2
In Miami, Garret Anderson homered for the sixth time in five games and Aaron Sele won his second consecutive start for Anaheim. Anderson, who had three home runs against Montreal on Wednesday, hit a three-run shot in the fourth inning off Tommy Phelps (2-1).
Sele (3-3) had his best performance of the season in his sixth start. He pitched seven innings -- his longest outing of the year -- and allowed two runs on four hits. He did not walk a batter and even singled in the seventh.
Expos 5, Rangers 4
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Brad Wilkerson took advantage of the short fences at Hiram Bithorn Stadium with two homers as Montreal dealt Texas its eighth straight loss.
Jose Vidro also homered for Montreal, a legitimate shot off the advertisements beyond the right-field bleachers, as the Expos won their third straight game. Claudio Vargas (3-2) pitched in and out of trouble, but was touched for four unearned runs in the second and nothing else in five innings.
Diamondbacks 5, Indians 3
In Phoenix, Shea Hillenbrand hit a two-run triple in the fifth inning, rallying Arizona to a win over Cleveland and former teammate Brian Anderson.



