Clemens’ hamstring all healed up

Roger Clemens bounded to the mound for his first start in 10 days, then refused to come out after throwing 94 pitches. His hamstring healed, the Rocket looked ready for the regular season.

The 42-year-old Clemens seemed dominant as ever through the first four innings of the Houston Astros’ 14-11, 10-inning victory over Detroit in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, scattering four harmless hits. But the Tigers broke through for three runs after the Houston right-hander tired in the fifth and four more in the sixth.

“The hamstring was free and lose,” Clemens said. “I was able to jog to the mound, which I couldn’t do the other day.”

Clemens got a standing ovation from the fans at Joker Marchant Stadium as he left after completing six innings, trailing 7-6. He allowed 12 hits, two of them homers, while walking one and striking out seven.

This was the third start of the spring for Clemens, but the first since March 18, when he left a game against Detroit with a strained right hamstring. Clemens, who won his seventh Cy Young last season, threw 90 pitches in a simulated game March 24 in Kissimmee, Fla.

Astros manager Phil Garner had intended to keep Clemens on a 90-pitch count, but it didn’t work out quite that way.

“I went out to the mound at 94 and he said he wanted to keep going,” Garner said. “I frankly thought his 99th pitch was his best.”

Clemens eventually finished at 109 pitches, 70 for strikes.

Thome, Padilla making progress

Jim Thome had three hits, including a homer, in a minor league game in Clearwater, Fla., moving closer to returning to the Philadelphia Phillies’ lineup.

Thome has missed the last six games with a lower back strain. The four-time All-Star first baseman was 3 for 4 against Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate.

Right-hander Vicente Padilla, sidelined all spring with triceps tendinitis, threw 40 pitches in a Class A game. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday and could pitch in another minor league game Saturday.

Washington’s Armas put on DL

The Washington Nationals placed right-hander Tony Armas Jr. on the 15-day disabled list with a right groin pull, the team’s first significant injury of spring training.

Armas was hurt Sunday, when he left his start against the New York Mets after just one inning.

He missed most of the past two seasons after major surgery on his pitching shoulder in May 2003.

Also, the Nationals acquired first baseman Carlos Torres from the Boston Red Sox and assigned shortstop Ian Desmond to their minor league camp.

Padres get Redding from Astros

The Astros traded pitcher Tim Redding and cash to the Padres for catcher Humberto Quintero.

Redding, 27, was 5-7 with a 5.72 ERA in 27 games for the Astros last season, including 17 starts and a demotion to the bullpen in July.