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Twins-Yankees Preview

May 16, 2009 - 11:37 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Minnesota (18-18) at New York (18-17), 1:05 p.m. EDT

Mark Teixeira had a splendid first turn as the New York Yankees' designated hitter. He'll look for a encore Sunday while trying to continue his success against the Minnesota Twins.

The Yankees will also try for a season-high fifth straight win when they continue a four-game series with the visiting Twins.

After getting bumped on his left wrist during a play at first base Friday night, Teixeira was put at DH only after New York manager Joe Girardi made sure Alex Rodriguez could also play third. He missed three games earlier this season with an injury to the same wrist.

Teixeira responded with his best game for the Yankees (19-17), going 4-for-4 in Saturday's 6-4 victory in 11 innings. He finished a triple shy of the cycle and accounted for all of New York's runs in regulation with a season-high four RBIs, hitting a three-run homer in the third and a tying single in the eighth.

"I was just getting good pitches to hit," Teixeira said. "I got four good pitches to hit and I didn't miss them."

That set up Rodriguez to play the role of hero with a two-run homer in the 11th. It was the first hit at the new Yankee Stadium for the third baseman, who was playing in his second home game of the season following hip surgery and admission of performance-enhancing drug use.

"For me, I gave (the media) something to talk about and write about in the 11th inning and I didn't have to open my mouth," said Rodriguez, who is hitting .154 with two home runs since returning. "That's kind of the way I want things, you know. Stay out of my own way."

In his team's four consecutive wins, Teixeira is 9 for 16 (.563) with three doubles, a home run and seven RBIs, and has raised his batting average from .191 to .238. He has batted .369 in his career against the Twins - his best against an AL opponent - and has homered in four of the last six meetings.

Teixeira doubled and homered in his only career meeting with Sunday's scheduled starter for Minnesota (18-19), Kevin Slowey (5-1, 4.91 ERA).

After he had a personal three-game win streak snapped May 6 in Baltimore, Slowey bounced back by allowing one run over six innings in a 6-2 win Tuesday night at home against Detroit. The right-hander split two starts last season versus New York, giving up one run over six innings in a 4-2 home victory Aug. 13. He is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in two starts at the Yankees' old home.

New York will look to A.J. Burnett (2-1, 5.36), who took his first loss of the season Tuesday night in Toronto. Burnett, who has allowed 20 runs in his last four starts, is 1-1 with a 4.21 ERA in four career starts against the Twins.

Minnesota's Justin Morneau hit his third home run in two games and Joe Mauer had his second in as many days at the new stadium, which has seen 56 homers in 15 games. The major league record for most homers in the first 15 games at a new park is 59 at Puerto Rico's Hiram Bithorn Stadium from 2001-03

"This is a tough place to play," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "You can't make mistakes here."

Gardenhire's third baseman, Joe Crede, could miss Sunday's game after sitting out Saturday with tightness in his hamstrings and chronically problematic back, but outfielder Delmon Young returned as a pinch runner after missing Friday to be with his ill mother.