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Yanks try to continue home dominance of Twins

Apr 16, 2012 - 2:49 PM (Sports Network) - The New York Yankees hope to continue their home dominance of the Minnesota Twins this evening when they open a four-game series against them at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees have won nine of their 11 matchups with the Twins at the new stadium and are an incredible 33-7 at home against them since Ron Gardenhire took the reins in Minnesota in 2002.

Not to mention the Twins have also been swept by the Yankees in both the 2009 and 2010 American League Division Series.

"You're going to have to face them sometime," Twins catcher Joe Mauer said. "It's a tough part of our schedule. We might as well see them early."

Minnesota, which will visit the Tampa Bay Rays after this series, were worked over this past weekend, dropping all three games of their set with the Texas Rangers to fall to 2-7 on the season.

Liam Hendriks limited the Rangers to a run on seven hits over six innings on Sunday and was in line for his first major league win before Glen Perkins (0-1) surrendered a two-run eighth-inning home run to Josh Hamilton, carrying the Rangers to a 4-3 win.

"We had them where we wanted them and I didn't get it done," Perkins said.

Tonight, the Twins turn to right-hander Carl Pavano, who is very familiar with the Bronx. Pavano, of course, spent four tumultuous seasons with the Yankees in which he was paid nearly $40 million, but spent most of the time on the disabled list, making just 26 starts for them.

After losing his opener Pavano received a no-decision on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, as he allowed five runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 6-5 win.

He has faced the Yankees four times and is 0-1 against them with a 4.76 ERA.

New York, meanwhile, heads into tonight's tilt after taking two of three from the Angels. The Yankees won the rubber match of that set on Sunday, as Derek Jeter and Raul Ibanez each homered and drove in three runs in an 11-5 rout.

Robinson Cano scored three runs and Nick Swisher drove in a pair for New York, which was coming off Saturday's 7-1 setback, but won for the fifth time in six tries overall.

Ivan Nova (2-0) earned the win after allowing four runs on eight hits over six innings, while his counterpart, Jerome Williams (0-1) didn't make it out of the third inning in his first start of the season.

Tonight the Yanks turn to veteran righty Freddy Garcia, who struggled with his command his first time out. On Tuesday in Baltimore Garcia became the first pitcher to throw five wild pitches since Ken Howell in 1989, but despite that, did not get a decision, as he allowed four runs (three earned) and four hits in 4 2/3 frames.

"I couldn't throw the split, and that's my No. 1 pitch," Garcia said Tuesday. "I couldn't get a grip. I tried a different grip, but that's a pitch you want to hit your spots when you need to."

The Yanks were 6-2 overall versus the Twins last season.