Posted on: Thursday, August 16, 2001

Clemens' 16-1 mark best in past 32 years

Associated Press

NEW YORK — For the first time in 32 years, a major league pitcher has a record of 16-1.

Roger Clemens improved upon the best season of his career, record-wise, by allowing only four hits in seven innings to lead the New York Yankees past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 10-3 last night.

Improving to 10-0 at Yankee Stadium and 7-0 in night games, Clemens had just one difficult inning in winning his 12th consecutive decision.

He is only the sixth major leaguer since 1900 to start 16-1, the first since Dave McNally did it for the Baltimore Orioles in 1969.

"I don't know the history behind it, and I don't think it matters unless we get to where we want to be — staying in first place and reaching our goals," Clemens said. "It makes all the work I do seem to pay off."

Clemens is just the sixth pitcher in modern major league history to post a record of 16-1. The others are McNally, Rube Marquard (1912), Guy Bush (1929), Don Newcombe (1955) and ElRoy Face (1959).

Clay Bellinger hit a three-run homer and a solo shot. Derek Jeter added a pair of doubles and a home run for the Yankees.