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Abreu, Pavano lead Yankees to rout of Twins

Apr 10, 2007 - 3:24 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- For at least one game, Carl Pavano quieted his critics and those surrounding the New York Yankees' bullpen.

Pavano pitched seven strong innings for his first win in nearly two years and Bobby Abreu continued his mastery of Sidney Ponson as the Yankees pounded the Minnesota Twins, 8-2.

Abreu drove in four runs and Alex Rodriguez knocked Ponson out with his fifth homer of the season for the Yankees, who had a starter go more than five innings for the first time this season.

"That was big," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "What we haven't been able to do so far is shut the opposition down when we score. He was able to do that two innings in a row, and I think that was big, momentum-wise."

Pavano, who has missed the last 1 1/2 years with an assortment of injuries that has caused teammates to question his desire, allowed two runs and six hits and did not walk a batter in his longest outing since May 22, 2005, against the New York Mets - his last major league victory.

"Some days it seems like yesterday, some like a lifetime," Pavano said. "I'm glad to have all that behind me and move forward."

"I know its long to us, but a lot longer to him," Torre said.

The righthander lasted just 4 1/3 innings on Opening Day against Tampa Bay, allowing five runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings.

In New York's first five games, the rotation combined to allow 27 runs - 24 earned - and 36 hits in 21 2/3 innings. But Pavano was able to give the Yankee bullpen a rest.

"We want him to be out there on a consistent basis, that's the main thing," Yankees catcher Jorge Posada said. "When he does the things he does today, he's going to be fun to catch, fun to see. He's going to have a hell of a year."

Only four Twins hitters made it as far as second base against Pavano, who has won his last five starts on artificial grass dating to 2004.

"You knew he had quality stuff," Twins right fielder Michael Cuddyer said. "We knew what he was going to do to us, he just executed tonight."

Pavano had plenty of help, as Abreu had an RBI single during a three-run first inning and blasted a two-run homer in the next frame off Ponson as the Yankees jumped to a 5-0 edge.

The Yankees' right fielder delivered an RBI single in the sixth and Rodriguez followed with a blast to right field for an 8-1 lead. With that home run, Rodriguez became the first player in Yankees history to hit five homers in his first six games of the season.

That ended the day for Ponson, who was making his Twins debut after spending the 2006 campaign with the Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals.

"They had some bloops and little rollers that just found the right spot," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He kept us in the ballgame and really battled. I probably shouldn't have left him in there against A-Rod."

Abreu is 9-for-21 with three homers, while Rodriguez has six home runs and 18 RBI in his career against Ponson.

"There's no fence he can't reach," Torre said about Rodriguez.

The righthander from Aruba, Ponson was pounded for eight runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 frames. He was 4-5 with a 6.25 ERA last season.

Ponson suffered through some tough luck early, as Johnny Damon led off with a broken-bat double and Derek Jeter followed with an infield single before Abreu's RBI-single.

Posada hit a ground-rule double three batters later that Jason Kubel - playing left field for the injured Rondell White - took a bad route on before watching the ball bounce next to him and into the seats.

In the sixth inning, Ponson gave up two-out singles to Jeter and Abreu before Rodriguez's home run.

"They hit a lot of ground balls where guys weren't, its just part of the game," Ponson said. "You go after guys, throw strikes - you have seven guys behind you so the odds are in your favor - but today the odds were not in my favor. It was one of those days."

Torii Hunter had two hits, a run and RBI for the Twins, who split six games with the Yankees last season.