By JOHN DELCOS
The (Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News

BOSTON - Nobody knows how things will unfold for Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez in Fenway Park Saturday, the setting for what will not just be pivotal Game 3 of the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox American League Championship Series, but an epic match-up between two of baseball's biggest pitching stars as they try to sustain the World Series aspirations of two of the sport's most storied franchises.

Derek Jeter believes it will live up to a script and be a game for the ages.

"You have two of the best pitchers of all time pitching in the playoffs," Jeter said. "It's Boston and New York. It keeps adding to the rivalry. When I look back on my career and think of the special moments, I'm sure this will be one of them."

Will Jeter be right, or will the anticipation exceed the event and the hoped-for 2-1 classic unravel in a sloppy 13-1 rout?

That's how it was here in 1999, when Martinez stuffed the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS and Clemens left to a sarcastic "Roger, Roger" serenade, a lingering bitterness that finally ended in the peace gesture of a warm ovation in late August when he made what was thought would be his final Fenway appearance.

Clemens came back to dominate after that ALCS humiliation, but it's possible there will be no coming back should the same happen this time.

He does not want it to end for him where it all began.

"I know as we march through these playoffs that my starts are coming towards an end," Clemens said. "You just don't want it to be the next one. You want to be able to continue."

Clemens knows to a large degree whether he pitches again after Saturday is up to him.

To a large degree, whether Clemens throws another baseball after this game will also be up to Martinez.

"I don't remember a lot of it. I just know when I was out of the game it got way out of hand," Clemens said of Game 3, 1999, when he lasted two innings, giving up five runs as Martinez struck out 12 Yankees.

"I don't remember a lot about that game. I don't really dwell on those situations. I've had bad games before."

Whatever Martinez remembers he isn't saying, continuing his boycott of the media and letting his manager, Grady Little, embarrass himself by defending his pitcher's tantrum with a lame "he wants to continue doing what he has been doing and try not to break his karma."

Clemens' karma is the product of the work ethic that is the basis for 310 career victories, 4,099 strikeouts and six Cy Young Awards, numbers beyond Martinez's reach.

"It's just the way you play," Clemens said. "That's why you get up in December to work, for these moments, for the manager to hand me the ball and tell me, 'Go get 'em.' That's what I've done my entire career and what I look forward to."

Clemens is also the product of emotion, and manager Joe Torre hopes he doesn't get too high and overthrow, a variable that could derail history.

Clemens says he's ready; he's not thinking about 1999, nor is he thinking about how Fenway will receive him. He has the right emotional edge, something that came through as he described the three factors - as they relate to him - that define a great pitcher.

"Physically, I'm going to beat you," Clemens said. "Mentally, I can beat you, and emotionally I'm going to beat you. I hope it's not changed, but if it has, I need to walk away now because I would not be the pitcher that I am."

Five years from now, it won't matter if Cooperstown recognizes Clemens in a Red Sox or Yankees cap, and whatever the final numbers, they can't adequately measure his dominance or legacy.

Twenty years from now, fathers will tell their sons of the night they saw No. 21 strike out 20 Seattle Mariners, or the night they saw No. 22 win his 300th game.

If those fathers are Jeter or Spike Owen, Jorge Posada or Rich Gedman, Clemens will have been rewarded.

"In my last regular-season start against Baltimore, I saw all their guys clapping, tipping their hat. Guys I battled against; guys I competed against. I don't have to look any further than that," Clemens said. "You know, I love to compete. To my last game, I love to compete and I've never lost that. I've never lost that will and that desire to compete."

He does it one more time Saturday, hoping it won't be the last time.