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Rodriguez, Cano help Yankees edge Twins

May 31, 2008 - 5:49 AM By Anthony Maggio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- It took Mike Mussina until August 11 to notch his eighth win last season. Just 12 starts into 2008, Mussina has already hit that mark for a share of the American League lead.

Mussina overcame a four-run first inning and Alex Rodriguez hit a go-ahead double in the fifth as the New York Yankees rallied to beat the Minnesota Twins, 6-5, on Friday at the Metrodome.

Bobby Abreu collected three hits, including two triples, and scored a season-high four runs as the Yankees posted their seventh victory in nine games.

Meanwhile, Mussina (8-4) notched his seventh win in his last eight starts to pull even with Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka, Anaheim's Joe Saunders and Cleveland's Cliff Lee for the AL lead in victories.

"I've had a lot of things go my way, I've been very fortunate," Mussina said. "I couldn't have predicted eight wins after two months. When I got to spring training, I was just hoping to stay in the rotation."

Melky Cabrera tied the game at 4-4 with a two-run single in the fourth, and Rodriguez plated Abreu with a double to center field an inning later to give the Yankees the lead.

Hideki Matsui added an important RBI single in the seventh.

Justin Morneau sliced the deficit to 6-5 with a solo homer off Kyle Farnsworth in the eighth, but Mariano Rivera worked around a walk in the ninth for his 14th save in as many chances.

Mussina was just trying to stay in the game in the opening frame after first baseman Shelley Duncan's throwing error opened the door for a four-run outburst that erased New York's 1-0 edge.

After throwing 36 pitches in the inning, Mussina settled down considerably. The 39-year-old allowed just two more hits and retired 10 in a row in a stretch between the second and fifth innings.

Mussina allowed four runs - two earned - and six hits in six innings.

"I'm able to do what I want to do with the baseball," Mussina said. "I couldn't do that last year. I'm able to make adjustments when I have to, like today, for example. I can battle through some games and find some ways to get some people out."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi has not been surprised by Mussina's turnaround.

"I thought all along that he was going to be a big part of our rotation," Girardi said. "I've said it all year long, you don't forget how to pitch. I'm not surprised because Moose has made adjustments. He's always been a very smart pitcher."

Counterpart Glen Perkins (2-2) had the worst start of his young career. The lefthander allowed five runs and 10 hits with two walks in a season-low four-plus innings.

"It's just one of those nights where he couldn't locate," Twins acting manager Scott Ullger said. "I don't think he was overthrowing. He was fighting himself all night."

New York took a 1-0 advantage in the first as Abreu walked, stole second and scored on Matsui's bloop single to left. The lead was short-lived, however, as Duncan's throwing error on what should have been an inning-ending double play led to a four-run bottom of the inning.

Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel and Delmon Young followed with RBI singles and Mike Lamb plated a run with a grounder, giving the Twins a 4-1 bulge.

Things could have been worse, but Derek Jeter made a diving stop on Lamb's grounder in the hole at shortstop and made a backhand flip to second for the second out of the inning.

"(Jeter's) play in the first inning probably changed the whole game because it got us out of there," Mussina said. "It could've been six or seven runs if he doesn't get to that ball and get an out."

While Mussina settled down, the Yankees fought their way back into the game. Abreu tripled and scored on Rodriguez's single in the third inning before New York tied it on Cabrera's two-run base hit an inning later.

Morneau and Alexi Casilla both had two hits for Minnesota, which has lost six of its last eight home games.

Rodriguez, Matsui and Cabrera had three hits and two RBI apiece for New York, which won for just the third time in its last eight road games.