Clemens fails again in his bid for 300th victory

CHICAGO -- Strike three for Roger Clemens.

Clemens failed in his third attempt to earn his 300th career victory, watching the New York Yankees' bullpen give up the lead Saturday at Wrigley Field.

Clemens allowed just two hits in his first six innings against the Cubs. But after striking out Corey Patterson to start the seventh with a 1-0 lead, things fell apart.

Sammy Sosa -- who hit his first career home run off Clemens -- singled to left. Clemens then walked Moises Alou on five pitches.

Yankees manager Joe Torre called on his bullpen. As Cubs fans jeered and Clemens muttered, Torre patted the pitcher on the head and sent him back to the dugout.

Clemens had thrown just 84 pitches, 55 for strikes, in his bid to become the 21st pitcher to win 300.

Clemens had barely gotten a seat when Juan Acevedo gave up a long homer to Eric Karros on the first pitch, giving Chicago a 3-1 lead.