HOUSTON (KRT) – Before he decided to end his brief retirement and come back with the Astros this year, Roger Clemens went to his mother, Bess, and asked her permission.

As Clemens addressed the media Saturday night after Houston’s 5-2 victory over St. Louis in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, Bess Clemens, who suffers from emphysema, watched from her wheelchair in the back of the interview room.

Roger Clemens has faced pressure many times before in his long and stellar career, but carrying the added weight of great expectations in Houston may be more than he bargained for.

“There’s added pressure,” he said. “It was no different than a few years ago in New York. But it’s a different situation here because it’s my hometown.

“It doesn’t matter what my age (42) is or what I’ve done in the past. I want to make a good showing. I’m just grateful I have a lot of friends and family here I get to share this with. They enjoy it. I hope mom is not too tired. She pitches every pitch with me. She’s still breathing.”

Bess Clemens glanced at him and pointed to her right arm.

“I need to wrap my arm tonight,” she said.

After the laughter died down, Clemens said he knew his mom was in good spirits when he saw her outside the clubhouse after the game:

“She’s not too (angry), because she didn’t run over anybody in the wheelchair.”

There’s always next time.