Roger Clemens made his scheduled start Wednesday night and allowed one run in 6 1-3 innings against the Florida Marlins, pitching in honor of his mother after she died early that morning. ``I'm not really at all surprised. The word that we used, he understands the meaning of the word duty,'' Houston general manager Tim Purpura said. ``His mother taught him about duty. He feels like he has a duty to pitch for the Astros tonight, and that's what he's doing.'' Bess Clemens died in Georgetown, Texas, because of complications from emphysema, the Astros said. She was 75. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner often shared his affection for his mother, saying her health was an important factor as he weighed retirement the past two offseasons. His stepfather died when he was young, and his mother was an inspiration. ``His mother was a very special person in his life. I can see the two of them together, Roger was still a little boy around her,'' New York Yankees manager Joe Torre said in St. Petersburg, Fla. ``She's been fighting this thing for a long period of time. Hopefully she's at peace and Roger is also.''