Yanks end Twins’ run
Loss final game at Metrodome
MINNEAPOLIS – In addition to possessing a plump payroll and plenty of power and pitching, the New York Yankees displayed more brains than the Minnesota Twins on Sunday night.
That made all the difference as the Yankees took another step toward their 27th World Series title by completing a three-game sweep in the American League Division Series in the final game at the Metrodome.
Energized by seventh-inning home runs by Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada, the Yankees overcame a strong pitching performance from former teammate Carl Pavano to seize a 4-1 victory.
The Yankees, who didn’t make the playoffs last fall, will open the A.L. Championship Series on Friday at Yankee Stadium against the Los Angeles Angels.
“Last year was a terrible thing, going home so quickly,” said Rodriguez, who batted .455 in the ALDS and hit his second game-tying homer in the seventh off Pavano. “It’s something we’re not used to. It feels good to not only make the playoffs but take care of the first round like we needed to.”
Meanwhile, the Twins will have plenty of time to assess their mishaps before they move into Target Field in 2010. Their chance to extend this series was hindered when Nick Punto – representing the tying run – rounded third base too wide on Denard Span’s infield hit and was tagged out for the first out of the eighth. Derek Jeter cut the ball off before it got to the outfield, threw home, and Jorge Posada fired to Rodriguez at third to nail Punto.
“It was one of those things where the crowd noise got me a little bit,” Punto said of the 54,735 fans.
“They were probably excited there wasn’t going to be a play at first base. (Nearly) 55,000 screaming at you, you felt that ball might have gotten through. That’s a huge play in that game, and I can’t let that happen.”
Andy Pettitte’s 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball bettered Pavano, who distanced himself from four miserable years with the Yankees with nine strikeouts – a Twins single-game postseason record.
But CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Pettitte limited the Twins to three runs in 19 innings, and Minnesota stranded 23 runners in the final two games and committed two costly baserunning errors.