The start of the 2007 season was highlighted by Alex Rodriguez setting or tying AL and/or MLB records for most home runs in his team's first 14 games, 15 games, and 18 games, finally setting the AL record and tying Albert Pujols for the MLB record for most home runs, 14, in the month of April. Alex then went on to win the American League Clutch hitter award during the month of May. But pitching problems hurt early on, "highlighted" by the Yankees using five or more pitchers in 10 consecutive games to end the month of April, the longest such streak in the majors in the past 50 years. All this led to the signing of Roger Clemens for close to $18 million for the last 4 months of the season. On May 29, the Yankees were 14.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, and were also 8.5 games out of the wild card spot. On June 18, 2007 the Yankees broke new ground by bringing the first two professional baseball players from the People's Republic of China to the MLB, and also became the first team in MLB history to sign an advertising deal with a Chinese company. Although failing to be above .500 going into the All-Star break for the first time since 1995, the Yankees were the hottest team in the majors the second half of the year, and on September 26 they clinched a Wild Card spot in the ALDS. However, although they cut the lead to 1.5 games in late September, they were unable to catch the Red Sox for the AL East title, breaking their streak of nine straight AL East division titles. Highlights of the season included Alex Rodriguez hitting his 500th home run at Yankee Stadium, being the first player to hit his 500th at Yankee Stadium since Mickey Mantle and youngest player to have ever reached that mark. On the last day of the regular season, Alex Rodriguez finished his monumental season by passing Joe DiMaggio for 10th place on the all-time Yankee single season RBI mark.