MINNEAPOLIS, April 18 (UPI) -- Roger Clemens picked up career victory No. 296 with six innings of work Friday night as New York Yankees starters remained unbeaten this season with an 11-4 triumph over the Minnesota Twins.
Clemens (3-0) needs just four wins to become the 21st pitcher and first since Nolan Ryan in 1990 to reach the historic plateau. The 40-year-old righthander allowed one run and five hits. He walked three and struck out eight, moving within 68 strikeouts of becoming only the third pitcher ever to record 4,000.
Clemens improved to 23-12 lifetime against the Twins and 11-5 all-time at the Metrodome. The victory also ran the Yankees' starters combined record to 11-0 this season, tying the mark of the 1990 Milwaukee Brewers for the best start by the rotation in the last 50 years.
At 13-3, New York is off to its best start since 1987. The Yankees have yet to lose back-to-back games and got their longest road trip of the season off to a positive start.
Robin Ventura had three hits -- including a pair of home runs -- and scored three times as New York torched Minnesota starter Brad Radke (1-2). Ventura has 21 career multi-homer games, the last one coming June 12, 2001, while with the New York Mets.
Alfonso Soriano and Raul Mondesi also homered for the Yankees. Every New York hitter but Jason Giambi hit safely in the 15-hit attack.
Radke was tagged for seven runs and nine hits in five-plus innings and his ERA through four starts in 7.84.
