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.

Reggie Sanders made his return to the St. Louis Cardinals' lineup from an appendectomy an emphatic one, too.

Clemens, 42, seemed dominant as ever through the first four innings of the Houston Astros' 14-11, 10-inning victory over Detroit in Lakeland, Fla., yesterday, 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 loose," 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.

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.

At Jupiter, Fla., Sanders homered in the third inning of the Cardinals' 13-10 loss to the New York Mets, his first actions since being removed from the lineup March 17 because of abdominal pain. He had surgery the following day, and spent two days in the hospital before being released.

"I still feel a little weak but I expect to be at full strength opening day," Sanders said. As for the solo home run in the third inning, Sanders said with a smile, "It sure felt good."

Sanders, who hit .260 with 22 home runs and 67 RBIs with the Cardinals last season, said he started light workouts five days after having surgery.

In other games: