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Clemens reaches 350

Yankees' Roger Clemens earned his 350th victory Monday against the Twins. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
From Wire Reports The Spokesman-Review
Yankees' Roger Clemens earned his 350th victory Monday against the Twins. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Roger Clemens was a 13-month-old living in Ohio the last time a major-league pitcher won his 350th game.

It was Sept. 29, 1963, and Milwaukee Braves legend Warren Spahn beat the Chicago Cubs on the last day of the season to reach that plateau. His catcher that day was a 22-year-old kid from Brooklyn named Joe Torre.

Baseball has a way of connecting its past with the present, and such was the case Monday night when Clemens pitched his eight best innings of the season to give the New York Yankees a 5-1 victory against the Minnesota Twins and secure his 350th career win.

And there to help celebrate was Torre, Clemens’ manager and one of his best friends in the game.

“It’s something special to be able to say you caught Spahn and managed Clemens,” Torre said.

For the reeling Yankees, it was special just to win a game against a team ahead of them in the wild-card race.

They had lost nine of their last 11 and desperately needed what Clemens gave them. The 44-year-old right-hander allowed only two hits with one walk and four strikeouts. He retired 21 of the final 22 batters he faced, the last 15 in a row.

Clearing the bases

Oakland right-hander Justin Duchscherer will undergo season-ending surgery on his injured right hip. … Philadelphia reliever Matt Smith will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left throwing elbow. … The Angels placed catcher Mike Napoli and infielder Erick Aybar on the 15-day disabled list, and optioned outfielder Nick Gorneault to Triple-A Salt Lake. To replace them, the Angels recalled catcher Jeff Mathis from Salt Lake and activated outfielder Garret Anderson and infielder Maicer Izturis from the disabled list. … Pirates left-hander Zach Duke was told he doesn’t have structural damage in his sore pitching elbow, and will seek a second opinion later this week. … Anthony Reyes was optioned to the minors by St. Louis to make room for Braden Looper in the rotation. … Nationals starting pitcher Micah Bowie went on the disabled list because of a hip injury and the team called up Tim Redding. … The Rangers activated right-hander Brandon McCarthy and put former Spokane Indians’ second baseman Ian Kinsler on the 15-day disabled list.