Atlanta, GA -- Lance Berkman and Carlos Beltran each hit two- run homers and Roger Clemens pitched seven gritty innings, as Houston pounded Atlanta, 9-3, in Game 1 of their National League Division Series at Turner Field.

Game 2 of the best-of-five set is slated for Thursday afternoon in Atlanta, where Houston's Roy Oswalt will oppose Mike Hampton.

Clemens (1-0), who is battling a stomach virus that caused him to miss a start last Sunday, was not his usual self, but still earned the win despite working out of trouble all day. He yielded three runs -- two earned -- on six hits while striking out seven and walking a postseason career-high six batters.

"I'm not going to come to the middle of the plate," Clemens said. "I'm going to be a little hardheaded and pitch to my spots."

The 42-year-old Clemens, who is baseball's only six-time Cy Young Award winner, improved to 4-0 in 10 postseason appearances since losing to Oakland in Game 1 of the 2001 American League Division Series.

Beltran ended 3-for-3 with three runs scored while Brad Ausmus and Jason Lane each added solo homers for the red-hot Astros, who earned the NL wild card berth after winning 36 of their final 46 regular-season games.

"It's a dream come true being able to play my first game in the playoffs," said Beltran. "You can't get much better than this."

Houston is trying to win a postseason series for the first time in franchise history after dropping its seven previous playoff sets. In fact, the Braves have proven to be the Astros' main nemesis over the years as Atlanta has won all three playoff matchups (1997, 99, 2001).

Jaret Wright, who made his first playoff start since 1999, took the loss after being hammered for six runs on eight hits, including three homers, over 4 1/3 innings. Wright (0-1) also walked none and fanned six.

Andruw Jones hit a solo homer for the Braves, who cruised into the playoffs after winning the NL East Division by 10 games over Philadelphia.

Atlanta jumped on the board with a run in the first inning. Marcus Giles reached on a one-out error after rightfielder Berkman dropped a routine line drive, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Clemens then issued consecutive walks to load the bases before Johnny Estrada lofted a sacrifice fly to right to plate Giles for a 1-0 edge.

"We should have taken advantage in the first inning," said Jones. "That was the ballgame right there. It's just tough, that's Roger Clemens. He can pitch out of jams and he did. That is why we lost the game."

The Braves had a chance to widen the lead in the second as they put runners on second and third with only one out. However, Houston got out of the jam and kept the game close as Clemens struck out Rafael Furcal before inducing Giles into a grounder to end the frame.

The Astros then responded from their good fortune by scoring four times in the third, keyed by a pair of homers. Ausmus led off the frame with a home run to left field to tie the game and after Wright retired two consecutive batters, Beltran singled. Jeff Bagwell then doubled to the gap in right center to plate Beltran and Berkman followed with a two-run blast to deep right field for a 4-1 edge.

After walking the bases loaded in the third, Clemens again got out of the inning unharmed as he struck out Charles Thomas to retire the side.

In the fourth, Clemens allowed runners to reach second and third with two outs, but got Chipper Jones to ground out.

Then, in the fifth, Houston put the game out of reach as it scored three runs. Craig Biggio singled with one out and Beltran followed with a mammoth two-run homer to make it a five-run contest. Bagwell then singled and after Berkman struck out, Jeff Kent delivered a two-base hit down the left field line to score Bagwell for a 7-1 advantage.

Andruw Jones' solo homer in the bottom of the fifth made it 7-2 and Atlanta crept a little closer in the sixth inning when Giles' grounder brought in Furcal, who led off with a triple.

The Astros, though, got a run back in the seventh inning as Beltran was hit by a pitch, moved to third on Berkman's single and scored on Morgan Ensberg's infield hit.

Lane's solo homer in the ninth capped the scoring.

Game Notes:

Clemens, who improved to 7-0 in his last 11 starts dating back to the regular season, has not lost since August 8 against Montreal. He also won for the first time in seven career Game 1 starts in the postseason (1-3) and improved to 9-6 in 28 all-time playoff outings...Houston, which is in the postseason as a wild card for the first time ever, won for only the third time in its last 15 playoff games...The Astros, who are in the postseason for the first time since winning the NL Central in 2001, scored more runs in Game 1 than they did in the entire 1997 NLDS against Atlanta (5)...Houston's nine runs were the most ever scored by the club in a playoff game...The Braves, who have won 13 straight division titles, have been eliminated in the NLDS in each of the last two seasons. Atlanta lost to San Francisco in 2002 and last year fell to Chicago in the first round of the playoffs...Beltran left the game in the seventh inning with a rib injury...Furcal is participating in the playoffs despite a probation violation on a drunken-driving charge.