Prior Has the Upper Hand on Clemens

Mark Prior, Todd Walker and the Chicago Cubs finally made Roger Clemens look his age.

Prior pitched five shutout innings in his third start since coming off the disabled list, and Walker homered twice, ending Clemens’ unbeaten streak at 13 games with a 7-2 victory over the host Houston Astros on Monday night.

A highly anticipated pitching duel between one of the game’s most enduring stars and one of its newest was surprisingly lopsided in favor of the Cubs’ 23-year-old right-hander.

Prior (1-1) gave up five hits and struck out eight, denying his childhood idol a chance to become the first pitcher in the big leagues with 10 wins.

Clemens, 41, hadn’t lost since Sept. 6 against Boston, when he was with the New York Yankees.

Clemens gave up five runs and a season-high 10 hits. He had six strikeouts but didn’t appear to have any zip on his normally fearsome fastball and slider.

Walker was four for five with homers in the sixth and ninth innings. The second baseman is 14 for 29 in his last six games.

Aramis Ramirez and Moises Alou also homered, handing the Astros their third loss in four games.

Philadelpha 10, Cincinnati 7 -- While Ken Griffey Jr. decided to wait at least another day to try for a milestone homer, Jim Thome hit his 400th to help the host Phillies over the Reds.

The game was stopped three times by rain and ended at 2:06 a.m. EDT. It was called in the ninth inning.

Ryan Madson (4-1) earned the win, and John Riedling (4-1) lost -- both in relief. The Phillies used seven pitchers, the Reds six.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Cleveland 14, Baltimore 0 -- Jake Westbrook (6-2) pitched a four-hitter for his first major league shutout, and the host Indians won their fourth in a row.

John McDonald, getting a rare start and batting only .107, had a career-high four hits.

The game was the makeup of a May 2 rainout at Jacobs Field.