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Heavy-hitting Yankees aim to continue success against Twins

Apr 5, 2011 - 2:27 PM (Sports Network) - The New York Yankees try to continue their mastery of the Minnesota Twins this evening, when the teams continue a four-game set at Yankee Stadium.

Not only have the Yankees beaten the Twins in all four postseason series played between the two, including the last two ALDS, but they have also won 12 of the last 14 regular-season matchups in the series.

That trend continued in Monday's opener, as Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada belted two-run homers in the first two innings to lead the Yankees to a 4-3 victory.

Ivan Nova (1-0) pitched six innings for the win, and New York's vaunted bullpen closed out the team's third victory in four games this season.

Joba Chamberlain pitched a perfect seventh, Rafael Soriano stranded a runner in the eighth and Mariano Rivera worked around a two-out single in the ninth to record his third save.

"Getting behind is not a good recipe against too many teams, especially these guys when they can do that at the end of the bullpen," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.

Rodriguez and Posada homered off Twins starter Scott Baker (0-1), giving the Yankees 11 round-trippers already this season. Baker yielded five hits and four walks while striking out two in six innings.

"We're hitting the ball well," said Posada. "Even the outs are line drives. We're feeling good at the plate, getting pitches and not missing."

Justin Morneau and Tsuyoshi Nishioka had two hits apiece for Minnesota, while Jim Thome hit a two-run double. The Twins salvaged a three-game set at Toronto by winning the third game on Sunday, but were outscored 22-8 in the series.

The Twins have now lost 14 of their last 15 games in the Bronx.

It may not get any easier for Minnesota this evening, as it goes up against lefty CC Sabathia, who has beaten the club in Game 1 in each of the last two ALDS. For his career Sabathia is 13-8 with a 3.05 ERA lifetime against the Twins, but hasn't lost to them since 2007 while with the Cleveland Indians.

Sabathia did not get a decision on Opening Day against the Detroit Tigers, as he allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits in six innings. He also struck out seven and walked a pair in his team's 6-3 win.

Minnesota will counter with a lefty of its own in Brian Duensing, who has lost to the Yankees in each of the last two postseasons but will be making his first regular-season start against them tonight. He has faced the Yankees four times out of the bullpen, though, and is 0-1 while pitching to an 8.10 ERA.

Duensing went 10-3 with a 2.62 ERA last season for the Twins.

With the left-handed Duensing on the hill, Andruw Jones is expected to make his Yankees' debut at designated hitter.