Clemens gave up Cameron Maybin's first major league homer but pitched out of trouble for six innings, striking out eight to match his season high. Jorge Posada also homered and finished with three hits for the Yankees, who took control by scoring four times in the sixth.

Mariano Rivera tossed a hitless ninth for his 20th save in 23 chances, a huge sigh of relief for New York. Rivera struggled in his previous two outings, blowing a save and taking a loss, before consecutive days off.

Clemens (5-5) gave up 10 hits, his most since allowing 11 on Sept. 19, 2005, with Houston at Pittsburgh, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He was working on 10 days' rest after serving a five-game suspension for hitting Alex Rios in the back with a pitch on Aug. 7 during a testy series in Toronto.

The Rocket walked none in his 353rd career win and tagged out Brandon Inge for an unusual caught stealing that helped him escape unscathed in the third.

One hitter who had Clemens squared up was Gary Sheffield, to the chagrin of the sellout crowd of 54,802. The ex-Yankees slugger, booed loudly again, went 3-for-3 with a double against Clemens, making him 11-for-18 (.611) lifetime against the right-hander.

The crowd roared when Kyle Farnsworth fanned Sheffield in the seventh, however. Farnsworth also struck out Magglio Ordonez on a 98 mph fastball to finish a perfect inning, another encouraging sign for the much-maligned reliever.