Houston ? Roger Clemens dug his spikes into the dirt and stared momentarily at the ground before throwing his first pitch. He knew his mother wanted him on the mound.

“I get my determination from her,” Clemens said. “She told me to go to work.”

The Houston Astros ace made his scheduled start Wednesday night and allowed one run in 61â3 innings in a 10-2 victory over the Florida Marlins, pitching in honor of his mother after she died early that morning.

Bess Clemens died in Georgetown, Texas, because of complications from emphysema. She was 75.

“I feel very blessed that she’s at peace now. The last 10 years were hard on her, the last 2-3 days were grueling,” said Clemens, who spent his mother’s final night with her. “But she was very tough to the end. She didn’t want to give up.”

Just after the final out, a tribute to Clemens’ mother was shown on the giant video screen, and Astros players stood in the infield and watched, while Clemens saw it on a monitor in the clubhouse. The video included Clemens talking about his mother at previous news conferences, his mother talking about him and video of them together on a baseball field.

“It was great to see her look so pretty like I remember,” he said with tears in his eyes.

Rockies 8, Dodgers 7

Los Angeles – Cory Sullivan had four hits, including a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning, and Colorado beat Los Angeles.

Nationals 6, Mets 3

New York – Preston Wilson and Vinny Castilla hit consecutive homers in the fifth inning, leading Washington over New York. Castilla and Nick Johnson each drove in two runs, and Wilson scored twice for the Nationals.

Phillies 12, Braves 4

Philadelphia – Reserve infielder Ramon Martinez hit his first career grand slam, leading Philadelphia over Atlanta. The Braves’ Andruw Jones hit his 50th homer.

Reds 7, Cubs 4, 11 inn.

Chicago – Sean Casey’s three-run double in the 11th inning sent Cincinnati past Chicago.

Padres 5, Giants 4, 10 inn.

San Francsico – Brian Giles lined a tiebreaking single to left with two outs in the 10th.

Pirates 5, Cardinals 3

St. Louis – Brad Eldred hit a pair of solo shots for his first multihomer game.