Comeback Kids: Yanks Eliminate Twins on Clutch Home Runs

Alex Rodriguez has done it once again.

If Friday night in the Bronx wasn't enough, A-Rod displayed another clutch home run in Minnesota to give the Yankees hope late, and eliminate the Twins from the playoffs.

In the seventh inning, Rodriguez drive a pitch from Carl Pavano into the right field football seats, he trotted around the bases as the ball bounced back onto the field for a monster home run to tie the game.

A-Rod chose to talk about others, rather them himself, after the game, "People can say whatever they want about home runs and big hits," Rodriguez said. "If you don't pitch and you don't defend, you are not going to win. The story of this has been CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte, and all three of them were fantastic."

Later in the same inning, Jorge Posada hit a shot to left that barely got out, to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead.

The home runs, would be the last ever hit at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome as the Twins will play outdoor baseball next year in their new stadium.

Alex Rodriguez is not hitting .455, with two home runs and six rbi in the postseason.  A more relaxed approach has rewarded him this time around.

Andy Pettitte started the game for the Yankees, opposite Carl Pavano for the Twins.  It was pitchers duel early on and late into the game.  While Pettitte blinked first and surrendered a run in the sixth, he would hold on for the win.

"You know, we want to win a World Series," Pettitte said. "We took a step here to move on. We are going to have a nasty series. It's going to be a war with us and the Angels, but we are looking forward to it. We're going to celebrate this one and enjoy it. I'm just really happy for our club."

In ten games this season against the Twins, including the playoffs, the Yankees were perfect, winning all ten.

The Yankees only needed three games to eliminate the Twins, as they swept their way to the first ALCS since 2004.

Their opponent, the Los Angeles Angels, completed a sweep of the Boston Red Sox on Sunday as well. 

The Yankees have a lot of work left to do, but they are onto a good start this October.

To win the Championship, you need eleven wins.  Three down, eight to go.

Quotes from MLB.com