How did Marcus Stroman’s outing rank against other Blue Jays returns?

MILWAUKEE – CIRCA 1997: Roger Clemens #21 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during an MLB game at County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Clemens played for 24 seasons with 4 different teams, was a 11-time All-Star and a 7-time Cy Young Award winner.(Photo by SPX/Ron Vesely Photography via Getty Images)

10. Roger Clemens – 2001

There isn’t a long story of Roger Clemens coming up through the system, it was simply the Boston Red Sox felt that he was on the downward part of his career and decided to not match his contract demands. The Blue Jays stepped in and signed him to a four-year deal worth $40 Million and he put up arguably the two greatest single seasons in franchise history.

Clemens put up back-to-back Cy Young Award seasons, posting a combined 41-13 record with a 2.33 ERA while averaging more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings. Unfortunately, after the second season, Clemens demanded a trade out of Toronto that had him moved to the New York Yankees during Spring Training in 1999.

It would take more than two years for fans to see Clemens return to Toronto when he took the mound in April 2001. Clemens was his usual dominant self as he struck out the side to start the game and then battled out of a jam in the second inning after Delgado and Jose Cruz led off with singles. The third inning had the Blue Jays explode for five runs that included a three-run triple by Cruz followed by back-to-back doubles by Brad Fullmer and Tony Batista. Clemens was able to only get through six innings leaving the game tied at five. It would take 17 innings, but the Yankees would win the game with Clemens taking the no decision.

Pitching Line: 6IP | 8H |5R |5ER |3BB | 5K

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