Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Clement throws in the seventh inning against the Reds Friday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        CHICAGO — Cubs starter Matt Clement struck out 12 for the second game in a row, but unlike his last start, got the win in Friday's 5-2 victory over the Reds.

        “Obviously, you've got to be feeling pretty good after two games like that,” said Clement, who also struck out 12 in a 3-2 loss to the Pirates on Saturday.

        It was Clement's first win with the Cubs, who acquired him from the Florida Marlins at the end of spring training. Clement (1-2) allowed just four hits over seven shutout innings, walking only one. He also drove in a run with a single, his first hit of the year.

        “I'm thankful to be a Chicago Cub and get a chance to pitch for a great team like this,” he said.

        Clement got off to a bit of a rough start, allowing runners at second and third on a wild pitch, but he struck out Sean Casey to get out of the jam.

        The Reds put three more runners in scoring positions against Clement, with the only real threat coming in the sixth. Aaron Boone and Casey hit back-to-back singles with two outs, but Clement retired Juan Encarnacion on a fly ball.

        “There is no explanation for guys not hitting when guys were in scoring position,” Casey said. “He made pitches when he had to make pitches. He was throwing that slider whenever he wanted to throw it, and that was the story of the game.”

        It was the third double-digit strikeout game of Clement's career, and matched his career high.

        “When you've got a slider like that and you can throw 95, you're going to strike people out,” Cubs catcher Joe Girardi said. “The key is location.”

        Clement left after the seventh having thrown 117 pitches, and Jeff Fassero gave up the two-run single to Casey in the eighth. Joe Borowski relieved, and retired Encarnacion to end that threat with the Cubs still leading 5-2.

        Antonio Alfonseca pitched the ninth for his third save, striking out two.

        “Everyone's talked about (Clement's) potential for a long time,” Cubs manager Don Baylor said. “Somebody's going to find that diamond in the rough. Hopefully we did.”

        “He was our "bad-luck' pitcher,” Girardi said. “I was glad to see us get him some runs today.”

        Notes: Clement's RBI was the fourth of his career. ... Cubs reliever Kyle Farnsworth, out with a broken bone in his right foot, threw from his knees Friday. ”(I want to) get my arm working because I haven't thrown in awhile,” said Farnsworth, who hopes to be back by the end of May.

Cubs 5, Reds 2 Reds box, runs Casey comfortable despite beaning Reds won't see Alou this weekend Clement gets W to go with 12 K's AP's gameday notes Pudge may be headed for DL NL: Neagle beats D-Backs AL: Pedro rules Royals

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