SUGAR LAND, Texas >> Roger Clemens was back on the mound at age 50, striking out hitters again.

Pitching for the first time in five years, Clemens tossed 3 1-3 scoreless innings Saturday night for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League.

Clemens faced the Bridgeport Bluefish and struck out two, including former major leaguer Joey Gathright to start the game. He allowed one hit without a walk and threw 37 pitches.

Scouts from the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals were on hand to watch Clemens’ comeback — for however long it lasts and wherever it leads.

He certainly was happy to be back on a diamond instead of in a courtroom. In June, the seven-time Cy Young winner was acquitted of charges he lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

Clemens, who last pitched for the New York Yankees in 2007, worked a 1-2-3 first inning and fanned two. His fastball was clocked at 88 mph, and he mixed in curves and splitters.

Wearing the No. 21 that he sported during his rise to fame with Boston nearly three decades ago, Clemens got a big cheer when he took the mound.

After whiffing Gathright, Clemens retired Luis Figueroa on a grounder and struck out Prentice Redman to end the inning. The sellout crowd, with many fans wearing Skeeters T-shirts with Clemens’ name on them, gave him another loud ovation.

Clemens didn’t allow a hit until a single by James Simmons with two outs in the second inning. He retired the next batter to end the eight-pitch inning.

Clemens has a bit of a belly that scores of 50-year-olds have, but he was effective enough against many hitters who were almost half his age.

The Rocket hasn’t committed to pitching more than one game for the Skeeters, but some believe this is the first step in an attempted return to the majors.

Clemens is set to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot going to voters late this year. If he plays in a major league game this year, his Hall consideration would be pushed back five years.

Clemens, who wore gray cleats with bright yellow accents, needed 13 pitches to get through a perfect third inning. He threw one more pitch after that and Figueroa lined out to end Clemens’ night with the Skeeters on top 1-0.

He received a standing ovation as he left. He stopped to tip his cap to the appreciative crowd before heading to the dugout to begin recuperating and see how his body responds to his big night.