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Clemens makes first start against AL team as Yankees visit Orioles

Jun 27, 2007 - 1:32 PM NY Yankees (36-38) at Baltimore (33-43) 7:05 pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The return of "The Rocket" has yielded mixed results thus far.

Roger Clemens will get another chance to notch career win No. 350 when the New York Yankees visit the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

Clemens (1-2, 5.09 ERA) came out of the bullpen on Sunday against the Giants to make his first relief appearance since his rookie season in 1984, allowing one run in one inning.

The future Hall-of-Famer and the Yankees wisely lined up his first three starts against the weaker lineups of the National League, starting him off against Pittsburgh, the New York Mets and Colorado before the inning of relief against San Francisco.

Clemens, who owns a 19-11 mark with a 3.46 ERA in 44 career starts against the Orioles, will be making his first start against an American League opponent with the hopes of getting New York back into the postseason race.

Baltimore will counter with staff ace Erik Bedard (5-4, 3.60). The 28-year-old lefthander has not allowed more than three earned runs in an outing since April 28, but has just two wins to show for his effort during that span.

Bedard earned a win on April 8 against New York, surrendering three runs in seven innings while striking out five. In nine appearances - eight starts - against the Yankees, he owns a 3-3 mark with a 4.79 ERA.

The Orioles earned a 3-2 win in Tuesday's series opener when New York reliever Scott Proctor walked in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.