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Clemens, Schilling square off in series finale

Sep 16, 2007 - 8:50 PM NY Yankees (84-64) at Boston (90-59) 8:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) - Roger Clemens makes what could be his final start at Fenway Park on Sunday night when the New York Yankees face the Boston Red Sox in the finale of a three-game series.

Clemens won three of his seven Cy Young Awards as a member of the Red Sox in 1986, 1987 and 1991. He picked up 199 of his 354 career victories as a member of the Red Sox before leaving the franchise following the 1996 season.

On Sunday, Clemens (6-6, 4.45 ERA) takes the mound for the first time since receiving a cortisone shot in his elbow last week. The 45-year-old righthander beat the Red Sox on August 29 at Yankee Stadium, allowing one run and two hits in six innings.

With Clemens on the mound, the Yankees will look to move closer to the Red Sox in the American League East. New York trails Boston by 5 1/2 games, but is 2 1/2 games in front of Detroit (82-67) in the wild card race.

Boston will counter with Curt Schilling (8-7, 3.93), who last faced Clemens in Game Seven of the 2001 World Series as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The 41-year-old righthander is a different pitcher these days, relying on command and changing speeds instead of a devastating fastball and splitter. Schilling is 1-2 over his last four starts - including a loss to the Yankees on August 30 - but has a 2.52 ERA over that span.

Clemens and Schilling have combined for 569 career wins.

After the Yankees rallied for an 8-7 win in the series opener, the Red Sox bounced back behind a sterling effort from Cy Young contender Josh Beckett in a 10-1 victory on Saturday.