• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Yanks edge Twins to take series

Apr 7, 2011 - 11:03 PM Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Brett Gardner singled home the eventual game- winner as part of a three-run fourth inning to help the New York Yankees take a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins.

The series was originally scheduled to go four games, but Wednesday's contest was rained out and a makeup date has yet to be announced.

Andruw Jones drove in a run and scored while Russell Martin and Nick Swisher each had an RBI for the Yankees, who took two of three in the series. A.J. Burnett (2-0) tossed six innings and was charged with two runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

"I felt good out there and felt like I got stronger as things went on," said Burnett. "Being able to breathe in here is nice and it was a big difference from the other day."

Jim Thome hit an RBI double and scored and Denard Span and Jason Kubel each had an RBI for the Twins, who have lost four of six to start the season. Francisco Liriano (0-2) was touched for all four runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts over five innings.

"It's tough playing against the Yankees cause that's a good lineup over there," said Liriano. "We just have to keep playing hard and in the future make better pitches."

RBI doubles from Thome and Kubel in the fourth gave Minnesota a 2-1 lead, but the Yanks surged ahead in the bottom of the frame.

With two on and one out, Jones doubled to score Alex Rodriguez. Martin followed with a ground out to plate Robinson Cano and Gardner then singled to score Jones for a 4-2 advantage.

Joba Chamberlain came on for Burnett in the seventh, but allowed a run. With one out, Alexi Casilla was hit by a pitch and then stole second that saw him move to third on Martin's bad throw. Span then grounded out to make it a 4-3 contest.

Rafael Soriano then worked around a leadoff single by Joe Mauer in the eighth and Mariano Rivera threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save of the season.

The Yanks worked a run across in the third inning as Gardner walked, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a Swisher sacrifice fly.

Minnesota went ahead in the fourth as Justin Morneau led off with a double and scored while Thome hit a double off the wall in center. Michael Cuddyer then flied out, but Kubel plunked a double to score Thome for a 2-1 lead.

Game Notes

Minnesota Twins second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka left with an apparent left leg injury after being taken out by Swisher on a double play attempt in the Yankees' portion of the seventh inning...The Yankees travel to Boston for a three-game set with their winless arch-rivals starting on Friday...The Twins have their home opener on Friday against Oakland.