The Rocket earned his 310th victory and Juan Rivera homered twice for the Yankees, who reached 100 wins for the second straight year and the 17th time in their history.

The AL East champions have home-field advantage throughout the postseason, which begins Tuesday against Minnesota.

Clemens (17-9), who plans to retire after the season, will pitch Game 3 of that series next Saturday at the Metrodome - meaning this might have been his final appearance ever at Yankee Stadium.

Baseball's only six-time Cy Young Award winner made the most of the moment, going six innings in a solid tuneup for October.

Clemens, 41, got a standing ovation as he walked in from the bullpen before the game, and didn't disappoint the crowd of 42,702. He's become a fan favorite in the Bronx after beginning his career with 13 stellar seasons for the rival Red Sox.

He spent the next two in Toronto, then the last five with the Yankees, winning two World Series rings.

After giving up two runs and three hits - all in the second inning - he went out to the mound before the seventh. Then manager Joe Torre lifted Clemens so he could walk off to a thunderous ovation.

Flashbulbs popped all over the ballpark and Elton John's "Rocket Man" played on the loudspeakers as Clemens pointed to the crowd and touched his heart.

Clemens finished one win behind former teammate Tom Seaver, who is 16th on the career list. The Rocket ended up 310-160 with a 3.19 ERA.

Clemens struck out three to give him 4,099 in his 20-year career, third behind Nolan Ryan (5,714) and Steve Carlton (4,136).

Jose Contreras pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, and Felix Heredia finished it for Clemens.

The Orioles went ahead in the second inning on Deivi Cruz's sacrifice fly and a two-out RBI single by Brook Fordyce.

Alfonso Soriano's two-run single off Jason Johnson (10-10) tied it in the second. With the runners going on the pitch, Rivera scored from first on a liner to right-center.

Rivera lined a three-run shot over the left-field fence in the fourth for a 5-2 lead. He added a solo shot in the eighth for his seventh of the season - and fifth in his past five starts.

Rivera set career highs by going 4-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored. It was his first multihomer game. He seems to be finally showing some of the talent that has made him a top prospect these last few years.