• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Sabathia, Stewart power Yankees over Twins

Apr 18, 2012 - 4:29 AM Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - CC Sabathia struck out seven batters over 7 1/3 innings and the New York Yankees got three RBI from Chris Stewart in an 8-3 victory over Minnesota.

Sabathia (1-0), who gave up four hits and three runs, is undefeated in his last 10 regular season and postseason starts against the Twins (since Aug. 3, 2007), going 9-0 over the span.

Stewart highlighted a four-run third with the go-ahead two-run single. Andruw Jones belted a solo homer and Derek Jeter knocked in two runs as part of a 13- hit attack.

The Twins, who took the opener of this four-game set on Monday, got a homer from Josh Willingham.

Francisco Liriano (0-2) allowed seven hits and five runs over 2 1/3 innings and saw his ERA rise to 11.91.

"I just want him to relax, have a smile on his face and have some fun playing this game because he has great stuff," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said about Liriano.

Twins center fielder Denard Span and Gardenhire were ejected in the top of the third inning.

Willingham homered to center leading off the second inning, but the Yankees tied it in the bottom half when Brett Gardner's double to left bounced into the stands for a ground-rule hit, scoring Curtis Granderson. Robinson Cano grounded out with the bases full to end the inning.

In the third, Span took a called first strike on the inside corner on a slider from Sabathia. Alexi Casilla, who singled with one out, was safe on the ensuing snap throw from Stewart. Span then started to talk with home plate umpire Greg Gibson. As he stepped into the batter's box, Gibson apparently heard enough of Span and ejected him and then threw out Gardenhire, who arrived on the field to argue.

Casilla moved to second on a balk, and Clete Thomas, who took over the at-bat for Span, hit a double off the wall in left to give Minnesota a 2-1 lead. Jamey Carroll then blooped a single into right field for a two-run margin.

Sabathia settled in by retiring 13 in a row.

"I just think he started to locate better. I thought his sinker became more consistent," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He just started to make great pitches."

The Yankees got five straight singles in the third to go in front. Eduardo Nunez beat out an infield hit to shortstop to plate Jones, and Granderson followed with a single to right, which resulted in the second error of the inning by right fielder Trevor Plouffe. Stewart then lined his two-run single to left field.

Matt Maloney relieved Liriano, but Jeter made it 5-3 with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Jones homered tight to the line in left with two outs in the fourth, and Jeter's line base hit to right-center plated Gardner in the fifth for a 7-3 margin.

Stewart added an RBI single in the seventh.

Game Notes

Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira was scratched from the lineup with flu- like symptoms...Willingham has hit safely in each of the Twins' 11 games this season. He's the first Twins player to record a hit in each of the first 11 games since Jacque Jones in 2002. Kirby Puckett owns the Twins record hitting safely in each of the team's first 15 games in 1994...Sabathia is 15-8 lifetime against the Twins.