Posted: Thu, Oct. 8, 2009, 2:50 AM |

Yankees follow Jeter to victory over Twins

Associated Press

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NEW YORK - Derek Jeter got a big hit, just as he did in Octobers past at the famed ballpark across the street.

CC Sabathia joined in the postseason fun.

Associated Press

Derek Jeter keeps his eyes on the flight of his third-inning homer.

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Even Alex Rodriguez broke out of his playoff rut.

It was like old times in the first postseason game at the new Yankee Stadium, with the Yankees beating the Minnesota Twins 7-2 last night in the opener of their AL playoff series.

"It felt just like the old place," Jeter said. "We couldn't have drawn it up any better for us."

After Jeter's third-inning homer off losing pitcher Brian Duensing drew New York even at 2-2, Nick Swisher pulled a go-ahead double down the leftfield line in the fourth that scored Robinson Cano from first as left fielder Delmon Young and shortstop Orlando Cabrera made a pair of poor throws.

Rodriguez had gone 0-29 in the postseason with runners on base dating to Game 4 of the 2004 AL championship series before chasing Duensing with an RBI single that made it 4-2 in the fifth.

From there the Yankees breezed to their first postseason win in exactly 2 years.

On a night with sustained winds blowing to right-center at 20 mph, with gusts up to 43 mph, Hideki Matsui followed with a two-run homer into Monument Park off lefthanded reliever Francisco Lirano's fourth pitch.

"Crazy. Nuts," Swisher said. "Everyone knows I'm a little hyper. Probably the hardest thing was keeping myself under control."

Rodriguez added another run-scoring single in the seventh following an error by first baseman Michael Cuddyer, with A-Rod's drive hitting halfway up the right-field wall. New York scored five runs with two outs.

"It definitely felt good," Rodriguez said. "There's no questions the numbers aren't good, but you've got to come out and play."

Wearing long sleeves on the blustery night, Sabathia got past a 22-pitch first inning and found a sharp cutter in his Yankees postseason debut.

"This is what you come here for," Sabathia said. "It was electric tonight."

Despite retiring the side in order just twice, Sabathia allowed one earned run and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking none. Sabathia, who twice got crossed up with catcher Jorge Posada, left with two runners on after 113 pitches.

Jeter's home run had inspired the big lefty.

"The place got loud," Sabathia said. "Him starting out the game with a single and then tying the score up right back, it just made me want to go out there and get three quick outs."

Minnesota didn't arrive at its hotel until nearly 4 a.m. and appeared to lack the energy that propelled the Twins during a 17-4 finish. The Twins struck out 12 times.

"Guys are tired," AL batting champ Joe Mauer said, before adding: "This isn't the time of year for that, to be worrying about that."

After a day off, the series resumes tomorrow night, when A.J. Burnett pitches for the Yankees against Nick Blackburn. New York will be trying to get off to its first 2-0 postseason start since 1999 against Texas.

Minnesota took a 2-0 lead in the third when Orlando Cabrera singled with two outs, Mauer doubled, Cuddyer hit an RBI single and Posada crossed up with Sabathia and allowed a run-scoring passed ball.

Jeter tied the score with a drive about 10 feet fair down the leftfield line. With his 18th postseason home run, he tied Yankees legends Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson for third on the career list behind Manny Ramirez (28) and Bernie Williams (22).

The captain was on base four times with two hits and two walks, and scored three runs.

"It's pretty fitting what he did tonight," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, managing his first postseason game since replacing Joe Torre 2 years ago. "That's Derek Jeter at this time of the year."

"I wish that we could go hire a righthander to come in and eat them all up," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "But we have a few lefthanders that have to pitch. That's just the way it is."