New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins: New York Wins in Typical Fashion

It wouldn’t be a Yankees—Twins playoff game if the Yankees didn’t fall behind early only to victimize the Twinkies late in the game to come out ahead for their seventh consecutive playoff victory, 6-4, against Minnesota.

Here are some highlights:

• The Twins had an early 3-0 lead, which looked pretty good as Francisco Liriano looked unhittable early.
• The Yankees drove up his pitch count and took advantage of him with a four-run sixth inning, capped off by a two-run triple by Curtis "I can hit lefties" Granderson.
• CC Sabathia was clearly gassed as he gave up the game-tying run in the bottom of the sixth to knot it at 4-4.
• Sabathia did not have his typical location all night. His line: 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR.
• Mark Teixeira launched a homer to right field that barely stayed fair off reliever Jesse Crain to make it 6-4.
• Boone Logan, David Robertson, and Kerry Wood got the ball to Mariano Rivera, who got a four (really a five) out save to end the game.
• Some lowlights include Jorge Posada not being able to catch a strike that led to a passed ball and the third Twins run of the night.
• In the ninth inning with two outs, Delmon Young hit a line drive to right field that Greg Golson caught, but umpires ruled it a hit because, well, umpires suck. Rivera got the next batter so the play didn’t matter anyway.

That was a big win, but the Yankees can’t rest and have to keep the pedal to the metal tonight as game two is just as important, if not more important, in a short series. For the record, the Yankees have never gotten past the first round of the playoffs as the wild card.

Related Stories

• September 28, 2010 -- An A.J. Disaster
• September 2, 2010 -- It’s Not Just The Weather That’s Red Hot
• September 2, 2010 -- Day Game Dominance
• August 31, 2010 -- Your 1st Place New York Yankees