(My Sportsbook) - If anybody out there is still doubting that the Boston Red Sox are cursed, look no further than what is about to transpire.

After posting his 299th career victory against the Red Sox at Fenway on Wednesday, Roger Clemens has a chance at reaching win No. 300 versus his former team at Yankee Stadium of all places on Memorial Day.

It wouldn't be as heart-breaking as Bill Buckner's goof in 1986, or as deflating as Bucky Dent's homer in 1978, but it would continue a legacy of horrible luck.

Clemens, once a Beantown darling, has become perhaps the most-hated former player in Boston sports history. The righthander can't pitch in Fenway nowadays without hearing a chorus of boos and taunts of "Ro-ger, Ro-ger."

By 1991, Clemens had racked up three Cy Young Awards and one Most Valuable Player trophy with the Red Sox. But from 1993-96, Clemens was just going through the motions, as evidenced by his mediocre 40-39 mark during the span. Because of the Rocket's dramatic slip in performance, the now-infamous Dan Duquette, Boston's general manager at the time, balked at signing Clemens to a huge deal and the fireballer felt disrespected.

Clemens then left Boston on bad terms and hooked on with the Toronto Blue Jays, who gave him the big payday he was looking for. The righthander was simply dominant over the following two seasons, capturing the pitching triple crown in both years and winning his fourth and fifth Cy Youngs.

Like Wade Boggs before him, Clemens then did the unthinkable when he joined the rival Yankees prior to the 1999 season. He has since won two World Series titles with New York and claimed his sixth Cy Young in 2001.

Because of all the accolades Clemens has collected post-Boston, many have debated over which hat he should wear in the Hall of Fame. But if it were up to Boston fans, they would probably prefer that the Rocket not don a Red Sox cap on his plaque anyway.

Clemens (6-2) pitched six solid innings Wednesday and gave up just two runs to help New York down Boston and pull within one victory of 300. He struck out seven before getting hit on the right hand with a come-backer by Bill Mueller with two-outs in the sixth. He remained in the game and retired the final batter he faced to escape trouble.

Manager Joe Torre decided not to bring Clemens out to start the seventh due to precautionary reasons. Clemens, suffering from a bone bruise on his left hand, will likely feel a lot better come Monday.

"I'll cross my fingers and hope I have good stuff and we can get the win there," Clemens said. "Nobody is going to hand it to you, though. No one has handed me anything in my career. I've had to work real hard and nothing is going to change. I won't worry about it until Monday.

"What I'm trying to do individually still takes a back seat. The guys in there know what's going on, they're smiling and they're excited, and I appreciate that. But on top of that, we needed to come in here and feel like we could play well. Boston gave us a great test, and we didn't even face Pedro."

A duel between Clemens and Pedro Martinez on Monday would be preferable, but Boston's ace missed his last scheduled start because of a strained lat muscle and is not expected to be available until Tuesday or Wednesday.

The Yankees gained sole possession of first place in the AL East with Wednesday's victory, but their lead was cut to one-half game with New York's loss to Toronto Thursday.

WHO'S HOT

Nomar Garciaparra is currently riding a 22-game hitting streak, the longest in the majors this season. For the month of May, the shortstop is batting .325 with four homers, 18 RBI and 14 runs scored.

WHO'S NOT

Leftfielder Manny Ramirez went 0-for-11 in the series against New York and has dropped below .300 (.299) for the first time since April 20.

COMING UP

The Red Sox finish up their 12-game homestand with a three-game set against Cleveland Indians this weekend. Boston then embarks on a 12-game road trip, starting with the crucial series in the Bronx.