MLB: Rodriguez, Nady Lift Yanks Past Twins in Extras

The New York Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins 9-6 in twelve innings Tuesday night, snapping a four-game losing streak.

Mike Mussina started for New York. Mussina pitched well, tossing seven innings and giving up three runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out five.

Nick Blackburn took the mound for the Twins. Blackburn threw 4.2 innings, gave up four earned runs on six hits, walked three, and struck out five.

The Yankees started their night on the offensive in the top of the first inning. Johnny Damon sent the second pitch he saw over the right field wall for a lead-off, solo homer, his eighth big fly of the year, to give the Yanks a 1-0 lead.

The Twins would take the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Brian Buscher hit a sacrifice fly to score Jason Kubel, and Adam Everett also hit a sacrifice fly to score Delmon Young, and Minnesota went ahead 2-1.

The Yankees would take the lead back in the top of the fourth inning. Xavier Nady hit an RBI double to score Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi, giving New York a 3-2 lead.

The Twins would knot the game at three in the bottom of the frame. Everett knocked in Young again, this time with an RBI single.

In the top of the fifth, New York would take the lead back again, getting an RBI single from Derek Jeter to score Jose Molina.

The Yankees would add another run in the top of the seventh, as Abreu hit into a ground out, but Damon crossed the plate to make it 5-3.

The Bronx Bombers would strike for one more run in the top of the eighth. Wilson Betemit singled to score Justin Christian, who was pinch running for Giambi.

Holding onto a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth with one out, the Yankees called on Mariano Rivera to record a five-out save.

Rivera did not make it, as he surrendered a three-run homer to Young, his sixth home run of the year, to tie the game at six and spoil Mussina's outing.

Rivera was a perfect 28 for 28 in save opportunities coming into this game, and blew his first save this year.

With the game knotted at six, the game went past the ninth inning, and dragged on into to extra innings.

Finally in the top of the twelfth inning with one out, Alex Rodriguez smashed a solo home run to dead center field, his 27th of the year, to put the Yankees up 7-6. Alex Rodriguez was 0-5 going into that at-bat.

The Bombers came alive after Alex Rodriguez's homer. Ivan Rodriguez doubled, and was followed by Nady, who smacked a two-run homer, his 19th of the campaign, to put New York up 9-6.

Edwar Ramirez came into the game in the bottom of the twelfth and retired Denard Span, Nick Punto, and Mike Remond to end the game.

Jose Veras captured the win and improves to 3-1.

Matt Guerrier lost and falls to an even 6-6.

Ramirez notched his first save this season, Damaso Marte recorded his 19th hold, and as noted before, Rivera blew his first save this year.

The Yankees pounded out 16 hits while the Twins reached base on contact 12 times.

"We need to play to win, play together, and today's a start," said Alex Rodriguez after the win.

Tomorrow afternoon at 1:10 ET, the Yankees have a chance to take the series over Minnesota.

Darrell Rasner (5-8, 5.28 ERA) will get the nod for the Yankees. He will face Minnesota hurler Kevin Slowey (8-8, 4.07 ERA).