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Wang, Yankees shut down Twins

Jul 4, 2007 - 4:05 AM BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Chien-Ming Wang has given the New York Yankees plenty to enjoy this season. Things might be even more enjoyable if their lineup produces like it did on Tuesday.

Wang scattered four hits in seven innings and Robinson Cano homered for the first time in over a month as the Yankees scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to roll to an 8-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the second game of a four-game series Tuesday.

The Yankees have won consecutive games for the first time in over two weeks and have scored 18 runs since falling behind 8-0 to the Oakland Athletics in the second inning on Sunday. Before the last three games, the Yankees managed just one hit off Chad Gaudin on Saturday and scored two runs or less in seven of nine contests.

For the most part, pitching had not been a problem for New York even as their offense struggled. Wang has been the most consistent performer in the rotation.

Even on a night in which he tied his season-worst with four walks, Wang was still effective enough to improve to 7-1 in his last 10 starts and win his fifth straight decision.

"Today I threw more changeups," Wang said.

The Taiwanese sinkerballer issued three of those walks in the top of the fourth when the Yankees were only up 1-0.

"That was uncharacteristic," Torre said. "He's got a lot of courage."

Jason Bartlett, who drew the first walk, was thrown out trying to steal second before Wang issued walks to Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer. Recently named All-Star Justin Morneau singled to load the bases, but fellow All-Star Torii Hunter bounced into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat.

In the bottom of the frame, the Yankees began to take command of the game when Cano deposited a 2-1 pitch from Minnesota starter Carlos Silva (6-8) just over the right field wall to push the lead to 3-0.

It was Cano's first home run in 112 at-bats, dating to June 1 at Boston and just his fourth homer of the season.

"That's why I was so happy about the homer," Cano said. "It's not because I hit it hard but when I hit it was men on base with two outs and it made the game 3-0."

Before getting two hits Monday and homering Tuesday, Cano had just three hits in his previous 15 at bats, including an 0-for-5 showing as the third-place hitter on Sunday.

"He wasn't forcing the at-bats," Torre said of his second baseman. "He was letting the game come to him a little bit. His first at-bat wasn't good, but after that I thought he was a lot slower instead of jumping out there."

"Cano can hit," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. "He knows what he's doing. He might have been scuffling but you just don't forget how to hit overnight."

The Yankees blew it open in the sixth as Jorge Posada opened the inning with a single to center field. Posada was able to reach third when Hunter over ran the ball for a two-base error and scored on a wild pitch. Four more runs followed in the frame as New York knocked out Silva and had its way against reliever Juan Rincon.

Bobby Abreu had his second straight three-hit night and had an RBI single in the inning. He was caught stealing but was safe when Bartlett misplayed catcher Joe Mauer's throw for an error, and Abreu scored on Melky Cabrera's two-run single up the middle, which made it 7-0.

The Yankees had 14 hits and none from Alex Rodriguez, who was back in the lineup after straining his left hamstring in a collision with Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau.

"It's important because you can't rely on one person," Torre said. "Not only is not fair for that one person but he's not going to be able to do it able everyday. The key to having a good ballclub is to be able to share the wealth."

Silva failed to win his third straight start as he was touched up for six runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"You always have to be careful with that kind of lineup," Silva said. "The first batter through nine, anybody can hurt you in the lineup. I made a lot of mistakes, I left a lot of pitches up. They made me pay for it."

While the Yankees have appeared to get it going offensively, the reverse has happened for the Twins. Minnesota scored 27 runs in a three-game winning streak last week but has just one run in its last three contests.

"We're having a really hard time offensively, just scoring runs," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We've been making too many mental mistakes and some physical mistakes. We need to find a way to score some runs."