Clemens hints on retirement

ANAHEIM (Reuters) - Roger Clemens was seeking a storybook ending to his Hall of Fame career when he took to the mound against Mexico at the World Baseball Classic on Thursday, in what he hinted was his final competitive appearance.

However, after the U.S. was eliminated from the tournament with a shock 2-1 loss, "The Rocket's" last competitive outing may well be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in American baseball history.

After the game, the 43-year-old seven-time Cy Young award winner shed little light on his future, issuing a cryptic statement that indicated Thursday's game was indeed his last.

"I felt great tonight and my body responded well," Clemens told reporters.

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity to participate in this event.

"It made all the work I did the last six weeks worthwhile.

"I got to know a number of players form different teams that if not for this event I wouldn't have had that opportunity.

"They got to see the competitive side of my nature.

"And for me, right now, it is goodbye."

At the start of the tournament at least four major league teams were courting the hard-throwing right-hander; the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.

It is unlikely that any of those teams will let Clemens, who has won 341 games and struck out 4,502 batters in 22 seasons, simply fade away into retirement.

HUGE APPLAUSE

Clemens stepped on to the mound to huge applause and just over four innings later the left to another standing ovation and a barrage of camera flashes.

Facing a must-win situation, Clemens, one of the major league's most fierce competitors, was saddled with the responsibility of carrying the U.S. into the semi-finals but was far from his dominating best after yielding two runs on six hits.

Even if Clemens did not play his finest game, U.S. manager Buck Martinez said he believes he would pitch again.

"Roger threw the ball very well," Martinez said.

"I think just the emotion of the game and even a great pitcher like Roger Clemens gets caught up in the moment.

"I just think he is performing at such a high level, and I'm not speaking with any inside information, I expect him to pitch beyond this start."