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Yankees look to extend home winning streak in opener against Twins

Jul 21, 2008 - 1:53 PM Minnesota (55-43) at NY Yankees (53-45), 7:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees will look to extend their longest home winning streak of the season to eight games when they take on the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game set on Monday.

After a pedestrian first half filled with injuries and plenty of shortcomings, the Yankees have appeared to catch fire in the early stages of the post All-Star portion of the season.

Behind strong pitching by Mike Mussina, Joba Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte, New York swept the Oakland Athletics and will hope to get similar results from Sidney Ponson (5-1, 3.96 ERA) on Monday.

After being waived by the Texas Rangers, the righthander was acquired and has thrown two quality starts in three outings since dawning the pinstripes.

The 31-year-old spent time with the Twins in 2007, when he made seven starts and posted a 6.93 ERA.

Minnesota, fresh off a series win over the Rangers, will give Nick Blackburn (7-5, 3.65) a chance to extend its winning streak against New York to three games.

The Twins fell to the Yankees in the first two games of a four-game set on May 30 and 31, but took the next two to salvage a split.

Blackburn gave up three runs and five hits in seven innings in a loss to the Detroit Tigers on July 13 - his first loss since June 6.

The Twins have lost 16 of their last 19 games in the Bronx.