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Clemens seeks 351st win, Yankees take on Angels

Jul 7, 2007 - 1:37 PM La Angels (52-34) at Ny Yankees (42-42), 3:55 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) - If Roger Clemens can be as impressive in his next start as his last one, the New York Yankees will be in business.

Clemens and the Yankees aim to continue their winning ways on Saturday when they face their nemesis the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

New York scored its most runs of the season in a 14-9 victory over the Angels on Friday. Jorge Posada drove in three runs and Alex Rodriguez belted his major-league leading 29th homer for the Yankees, who have won four of five.

The blast by Rodriguez was his 493rd, tying him with Lou Gehrig and Fred McGriff for 22nd on the all-time list.

The victory improved the Yankees to 53-58 in the regular season against the Angels since Joe Torre became their manager in 1996. The Angels are the only American League team to hold an edge over the Yankees under Torre, and also eliminated them from the playoffs in 2002 and 2005.

Clemens (2-3, 4.26 ERA) was impressive in his last start as well. The 44-year-old, who turns 45 next month, earned his 350th career victory, holding the Minnesota Twins to a run and two hits in eight innings in a 5-1 victory on Monday.

The seven-time Cy Young Award is 29-9 in 46 career regular-season starts against the Angels - his most wins against any opponent - and his 2.53 ERA against them is his second-best against any AL foe.

The Angels, who continue to lead the AL West, send John Lackey (11-5, 3.04) to the hill. The big righthanders can tie Josh Beckett and C.C. Sabathia for the most wins in the majors.

Lackey is 4-6 with a 5.35 ERA in 11 career starts against the Yankees, but he beat them at Yankee Stadium on May 27 by allowing two runs in eight innings of a 4-3 win.