New York Yankees Take Commanding 2-0 Lead in ALDS

The Yankees yet again won another come-from-behind playoff game against the Minnesota Twins as they beat them 5-2 last night behind a strong performance from Andy Pettitte.

Here are some highlights:

• The Twins had jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second, but Carl Pavano couldn’t hold it. Pavano pitched six innings and allowed four runs.
• Pettitte needed just 88 pitches. His line: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR.
• The Yankees tacked on another run in the ninth when Brett Gardner scored on a Curtis Granderson single.
• Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera locked down the Yankees lead over the final two innings.
• Ron Gardenhire was ejected in the seventh for arguing ball and strikes after an apparent strike three was called a ball and in the same at-bat Lance Berkman doubled to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.
• Berkman also homered in the fifth inning that gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead.

With a 2-0 lead in the series, the Yankees are set up pretty well to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time ever as the Wild Card. The series resumes Saturday night at Yankee Stadium with Phil Hughes on the mound. If Hughes can’t wrap things up, CC Sabathia will pitch on short rest Sunday night. If the series goes the distance it will be wrapped up in Minnesota on Tuesday.

Related Stories

• October 8, 2010 -- The Lance Berkman Non-Strikeout
• September 2, 2010 -- Yankees Notes: Vazquez, Pettitte, Jeter, Aceves, Venditte
• September 1, 2010 -- Yankees Notes: Expanded Rosters, Berkman, Aceves, the Rotation, and more
• August 29, 2010 -- Yankees Notes: Recap, Nova, and Injury Updates