The New York Yankees captured their second straight win over the Minnesota Twins in their American League Divisional Series (ALDS), downing the Twins 5–2 at Target Field in Minneapolis on Thursday.
Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte delivered a terrific performance, getting his first win since coming back from injury in September.
The lefty threw for seven innings and retired 12 straight Twins batters at one point before Orlando Hudson broke his rhythm with a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth inning. It was Pettitte’s 41st postseason start.
“It was just typical Andy. He was in control the whole night,” Yankees designated hitter Lance Berkman told TBS after the game.
“He’s the best big game pitcher I think I’ve ever been around. I knew that if he was physically healthy with his groin and his back he was going to be great, and he was,” Berkman said.
Pettitte led the defensive effort, while Berkman lead the offensive charge, scoring two runs and delivering two RBIs in four at bats, including a solo homer in the top of the fifth. Berkman was traded to the Yankees July 31 from the Houston Astros.
“That’s why I decided to come over here; the opportunity to play in games like this. To have a chance to win a World Series, it’s been great,” Berkman said.
Game On
Both the Yankees and Twins first got on the board from sacrifice flies; the Twins in the bottom of the second courtesy of Danny Valencia with Delmon Young scoring after the Twins had loaded the bases, and the Yankees in the top of the fourth courtesy of Alex Rodriguez with Curtis Granderson scoring.
Then Berkman hit his solo homer in the top of the fifth to give the Yankees a 2–1 lead setting the tone for the night. It was Berkman’s seventh career postseason homer.
Pavano faced some pressure in the bottom of the sixth inning with the Yankees getting runners on first and third with two outs. But he kept his composure against Nick Swisher, who grounded out on a 2–1 count.
Orlando Hudson’s solo homer in the bottom of the sixth tied the score at 2–2, and the Twins threatened to pull away with Young hitting a triple to center field. But the Twins were unable to do any more damage against Pettitte in the inning.
Then, just like in Game 1, the Yankees broke away in the seventh inning.
Pavano opened by walking Jorge Posada, and Berkman followed that with a double to center field to bring Posada home with no outs.
Then Brett Gardner bunted to put himself on first, moving Berkman to third, and Jeter hit a single to send Berkman home making the score 4–2.
Granderson sealed the Yankees win in the top of the eighth with a double to center field to send Brett Gardner home making the score to 5–2.
Mariano Rivera closed out the game in good fashion, getting the save just like he did in Game 1 on Wednesday.
The Yankees and Twins now travel to the Bronx for Saturday’s Game 3. There’s no place like home to try and close out a series 3–0.
