ATLANTA – It began like a typical Roger Clemens start – 1-2-3 and out for the Atlanta Braves in the opening inning.

That, however, was the only time the 43-year-old Houston right-hander would retire the Braves in order.

Rookie Brian McCann hit a three-run homer off the seven-time Cy Young Award winner in the second, and Adam LaRoche had a two-run double in the third. The Braves went on to a 7-1 win Thursday night to even the best-of-5 N.L. division series at a game apiece.

“The home run killed us,” Clemens said. “You can’t make that mistake there, a fastball back over the zone. A hittable pitch.”

Clemens allowed only 11 homers in 32 starts during the regular season.

“It was a surprise. He’s very good in close games about not getting hurt with the long ball,” Astros manager Phil Garner said.

Not surprisingly, the major league leader with a 1.87 ERA again got little run support.

The Astros scored a run in the first on an RBI single by Jason Lane but left the bases loaded when John Smoltz struck out Adam Everett to end the inning. Houston never threatened again against the Atlanta right-hander, who pitched seven innings.

Houston scored three or fewer runs in 20 of Clemens’ starts. The Astros were shut out in nine of them.

“You have to be mistake-free, so I was trying to be as stingy as possible,” Clemens said.

Clemens went five innings.

He allowed six hits, five runs, walked three and struck out two and left after 93 pitches, trailing 5-1. The five earned runs equaled the most he allowed during a regular-season game.

“(Catcher) Brad (Ausmus) and I were working like we normally do, they just got some key hits,” Clemens said.

“He (Clemens) was fine at the end of his outing,” Ausmus said. “His stuff started to get sharper.”