GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (42-39) at NY YANKEES (38-41)

AL: MINNESOTA at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
MINNESOTA 0
NY YANKEES 8 FINAL</div>

 

Wang, Yankees shut down Twins

<h3>NY YANKEES 8, MINNESOTA 0</h3>BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Chien-Ming Wang has given the NewYork Yankees plenty to enjoy this season. Things might be evenmore enjoyable if their lineup produces like it did on Tuesday.

Wang scattered four hits in seven innings and Robinson Canohomered for the first time in over a month as the Yankees scoredfive runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rolled to an 8-0victory over the Minnesota Twins in the second game of afour-game series Tuesday.

The Yankees have won consecutive games for the first time inover two weeks and have scored 18 runs since falling behind 8-0to the Oakland Athletics in the second inning on Sunday. Beforethe last three games, the Yankees managed just one hit off ChadGaudin on Saturday and scored two runs or less in seven of ninecontests.

For the most part, pitching had not been a problem for New Yorkeven as their offense struggled. Wang has been the mostconsistent performer in the rotation.

Even on a night in which he tied his season-worst with fourwalks, Wang was still effective enough to improve to 7-1 in hislast 10 starts and win his fifth straight decision.

The Taiwanese sinkerballer issued three of those walks in thetop of the fourth when the Yankees were only up 1-0.

Jason Bartlett, who drew the first walk, was thrown out tryingto steal second before Wang issued walks to Joe Mauer andMichael Cuddyer. Recently named All-Star Justin Morneau singledto load the bases, but fellow All-Star Torii Hunter bouncedinto a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat.

In the bottom of the frame, the Yankees began to take command ofthe game when Cano deposited a 2-1 pitch from Minnesota starterCarlos Silva (6-8) just over the right field wall to push thelead to 3-0.

It was Cano's first home run in 112 at-bats, dating to June 1 atBoston and just his fourth homer of the season.

The Yankees blew it open in the sixth as Jorge Posada opened theinning with a single to center field. Posada was able to reachthird when Hunter over ran the ball for a two-base error andscored on a wild pitch. Four more runs followed in the frame asNew York knocked out Silva and had its way against relieverJuan Rincon.

Silva failed to win his third straight start as he was touchedup for six runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.

While the Yankees have appeared to get it going offensively, thereverse has happened for the Twins. Minnesota scored 27 runsin a three-game winning streak last week but has just one run inits last three contests.

 

AL: MINNESOTA at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (0) VS NY YANKEES (8) - FINAL

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .296
a-L Rodriguez ph-2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .179
J Bartlett ss 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 .254
J Mauer c 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 .299
M Cuddyer rf 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 .284
J Morneau 1b 4 0 2 0 0 1 2 .280
T Hunter cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 .296
L Ford cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .247
J Kubel lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .241
J Tyner dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .279
N Punto 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .205

Totals 29 0 5 0 4 8 13

a-singled to center for L Castillo in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - J Morneau (15, C Wang). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
J Morneau 1, J Kubel 1. GIDP - T Hunter, J Tyner. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Bartlett (1, 2nd base by C Wang/J Posada).

FIELDING: E - T Hunter (1, bobble); J Bartlett (15, catch).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 5 1 1 0 0 0 2 .250
M Cabrera cf 5 1 2 2 0 0 0 .266
D Jeter ss 5 0 3 2 0 0 1 .343
A Rodriguez 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .318
M Cairo 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
J Posada c 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 .331
H Matsui lf 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .270
K Thompson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B Abreu rf 3 2 3 1 1 0 0 .261
A Phillips 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .250
R Cano 2b 3 2 1 2 0 0 4 .269

Totals 38 8 14 7 1 3 14

BATTING: 2B - H Matsui (18, C Silva); D Jeter (22, R Ortiz). HR - R Cano (4,
4th inning off C Silva 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - D Jeter 2 (43), R Cano 2 (35), B
Abreu (39), M Cabrera 2 (27). 2-out RBI - R Cano 2, M Cabrera 2, D Jeter.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Damon 1, M Cairo 1, R Cano 2. Team
LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: CS - B Abreu (4, 2nd base by J Rincon).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (A Rodriguez-R Cano-A Phillips, R Cano-A Phillips-D Jeter).



----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 000 000 000 -- 0
NY YANKEES - 100 205 00x -- 8
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva (L, 6-9) 5 1/3 9 6 5 1 2 1 4.37
J Rincon 2/3 2 2 0 0 0 0 4.30
R Ortiz 2 3 0 0 0 1 0 5.26

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
C Wang (W, 8-4) 7 4 0 0 4 3 0 3.58
S Proctor 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.89
E Ramirez 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.00

WP - C Silva. HBP - R Cano (by J Rincon). Pitches-strikes: C Silva 84-57; J
Rincon 20-12; R Ortiz 41-29; C Wang 101-61; S Proctor 15-11; E Ramirez 14-9.
Ground balls-fly balls: C Silva 10-4; J Rincon 1-1; R Ortiz 3-2; C Wang 14-3; S
Proctor 1-0; E Ramirez 0-0. Batters faced: C Silva 26; J Rincon 5; R Ortiz 9; C
Wang 26; S Proctor 4; E Ramirez 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Adrian Johnson. 2B--Dan Iassogna. 3B--Wally Bell.
EJECTIONS: MINNESOTA's Hunter by Kulpa (8th).
T--2:53. Att--53,862.
Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, right
to left.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MINNESOTA (0) AT NY YANKEES (8) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon singled to center. M Cabrera singled to center,
J Damon to third. D Jeter grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Damon
scored, M Cabrera out at second. A Rodriguez popped out to second. J Posada
struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 4TH: H Matsui grounded out to first. B Abreu reached on infield
single to third. A Phillips grounded out to pitcher, B Abreu to second.
R Cano homered to right, B Abreu scored. J Damon grounded out to second.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 6TH: J Posada singled to center, J Posada to third on error by
center fielder T Hunter. J Posada scored on C Silva's wild pitch. H Matsui
doubled to right. B Abreu singled to right, H Matsui scored. A Phillips flied
out to left. J Rincon relieved C Silva. B Abreu caught stealing second,
B Abreu safe at second on error by J Bartlett. R Cano hit by pitch. J Damon
grounded out to pitcher, B Abreu to third, R Cano to second. M Cabrera singled
to right, B Abreu and R Cano scored, M Cabrera to second advancing on throw.
D Jeter singled to center, M Cabrera scored. A Rodriguez popped out to first.
(5 Runs, 5 Hits, 2 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 8.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MINNESOTA (0) AT NY YANKEES (8) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Minnesota Starting Lineups -- L Castillo 2B, J Bartlett SS, J Mauer C,
M Cuddyer RF, J Morneau 1B, T Hunter CF, J Kubel LF, J Tyner DH, N Punto 3B,
C Silva RHP.

Ny Yankees Starting Lineups -- J Damon DH, M Cabrera CF, D Jeter SS,
A Rodriguez 3B, J Posada C, H Matsui LF, B Abreu RF, A Phillips 1B, R Cano 2B, C Wang RHP.

Umpires -- Ron Kulpa (HP), Adrian Johnson (1B), Dan Iassogna (2B), Wally Bell (3B).

Gametime Weather: 75 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind right to left at 11 mph.


MINNESOTA 1ST: L Castillo grounded out to pitcher. J Bartlett struck out
swinging. J Mauer lined out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0,
NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon singled to center. M Cabrera singled to center,
J Damon to third. D Jeter grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Damon
scored, M Cabrera out at second. A Rodriguez popped out to second. J Posada
struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 1.

MINNESOTA 2ND: M Cuddyer grounded out to third. J Morneau doubled to
right. T Hunter grounded out to third. J Kubel grounded out to shortstop.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 2ND: H Matsui lined out to center. B Abreu walked. A Phillips
singled to center, B Abreu to third. R Cano fouled out to first. J Damon
grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 1.

MINNESOTA 3RD: J Tyner grounded out to first. N Punto lined out to center.
L Castillo grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0,
NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 3RD: M Cabrera grounded out to second. D Jeter singled to right
center. A Rodriguez struck out looking. J Posada grounded out to first.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 1.

MINNESOTA 4TH: J Bartlett walked. J Bartlett caught stealing second,
catcher to shortstop. J Mauer walked. M Cuddyer walked, J Mauer to second.
J Morneau singled to left center, J Mauer to third, M Cuddyer to second.
T Hunter grounded into double play, third to second to first, J Morneau out at
second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 4TH: H Matsui grounded out to first. B Abreu reached on infield
single to third. A Phillips grounded out to pitcher, B Abreu to second.
R Cano homered to right, B Abreu scored. J Damon grounded out to second.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 3.

MINNESOTA 5TH: J Kubel singled to center. J Tyner grounded into double
play, second to first to shortstop, J Kubel out at second. N Punto grounded out
to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 5TH: M Cabrera grounded out to third. D Jeter grounded out to
second. A Rodriguez grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 3.

MINNESOTA 6TH: L Castillo singled to left center. J Bartlett grounded into
fielder's choice to shortstop, L Castillo out at second. J Mauer walked,
J Bartlett to second. M Cuddyer struck out swinging. J Morneau grounded out to
second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 6TH: J Posada singled to center, J Posada to third on error by
center fielder T Hunter. J Posada scored on C Silva's wild pitch. H Matsui
doubled to right. B Abreu singled to right, H Matsui scored. A Phillips flied
out to left. J Rincon relieved C Silva. B Abreu caught stealing second,
B Abreu safe at second on error by J Bartlett. R Cano hit by pitch. J Damon
grounded out to pitcher, B Abreu to third, R Cano to second. M Cabrera singled
to right, B Abreu and R Cano scored, M Cabrera to second advancing on throw.
D Jeter singled to center, M Cabrera scored. A Rodriguez popped out to first.
(5 Runs, 5 Hits, 2 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 8.

MINNESOTA 7TH: M Cairo at third base. T Hunter struck out looking. J Kubel
lined out to shortstop. J Tyner grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 8.

NY YANKEES 7TH: R Ortiz relieved J Rincon. J Posada flied out to center.
H Matsui reached on infield single to shortstop. B Abreu singled to right,
H Matsui to second. A Phillips grounded out to first, H Matsui to third, B Abreu
to second. R Cano lined out to center. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0,
NY YANKEES 8.

MINNESOTA 8TH: S Proctor relieved C Wang. N Punto struck out looking.
L Rodriguez hit for L Castillo. Minnesota's T Hunter ejected by R Kulpa in the
8th. L Rodriguez singled to center. J Bartlett struck out looking. J Mauer
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, L Rodriguez out at second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 8.

NY YANKEES 8TH: L Rodriguez at second base. L Ford in center field. J Damon
grounded out to second. M Cabrera grounded out to second. D Jeter doubled to
deep center. M Cairo struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0,
NY YANKEES 8.

MINNESOTA 9TH: K Thompson in left field. E Ramirez relieved S Proctor.
M Cuddyer struck out swinging. J Morneau struck out swinging. L Ford struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, NY YANKEES 8.</div>

 

Wang, Yankees shut down Twins

<h3>NY YANKEES 8, MINNESOTA 0</h3>BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Chien-Ming Wang has given the NewYork Yankees plenty to enjoy this season. Things might be evenmore enjoyable if their lineup produces like it did on Tuesday.

Wang scattered four hits in seven innings and Robinson Canohomered for the first time in over a month as the Yankees scoredfive runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to roll to an 8-0victory over the Minnesota Twins in the second game of afour-game series Tuesday.

The Yankees have won consecutive games for the first time inover two weeks and have scored 18 runs since falling behind 8-0to the Oakland Athletics in the second inning on Sunday. Beforethe last three games, the Yankees managed just one hit off ChadGaudin on Saturday and scored two runs or less in seven of ninecontests.

For the most part, pitching had not been a problem for New Yorkeven as their offense struggled. Wang has been the mostconsistent performer in the rotation.

Even on a night in which he tied his season-worst with fourwalks, Wang was still effective enough to improve to 7-1 in hislast 10 starts and win his fifth straight decision.

"Today I threw more changeups," Wang said.

The Taiwanese sinkerballer issued three of those walks in thetop of the fourth when the Yankees were only up 1-0.

"That was uncharacteristic," Torre said. "He's got a lot ofcourage."

Jason Bartlett, who drew the first walk, was thrown out tryingto steal second before Wang issued walks to Joe Mauer andMichael Cuddyer. Recently named All-Star Justin Morneau singledto load the bases, but fellow All-Star Torii Hunter bouncedinto a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat.

In the bottom of the frame, the Yankees began to take command ofthe game when Cano deposited a 2-1 pitch from Minnesota starterCarlos Silva (6-8) just over the right field wall to push thelead to 3-0.

It was Cano's first home run in 112 at-bats, dating to June 1 atBoston and just his fourth homer of the season.

"That's why I was so happy about the homer," Cano said. "It'snot because I hit it hard but when I hit it was men on base withtwo outs and it made the game 3-0."

Before getting two hits Monday and homering Tuesday, Cano hadjust three hits in his previous 15 at bats, including an 0-for-5showing as the third-place hitter on Sunday.

"He wasn't forcing the at-bats," Torre said of his secondbaseman. "He was letting the game come to him a little bit.His first at-bat wasn't good, but after that I thought he was alot slower instead of jumping out there."

"Cano can hit," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. "He knowswhat he's doing. He might have been scuffling but you justdon't forget how to hit overnight."

The Yankees blew it open in the sixth as Jorge Posada opened theinning with a single to center field. Posada was able to reachthird when Hunter over ran the ball for a two-base error andscored on a wild pitch. Four more runs followed in the frame asNew York knocked out Silva and had its way against relieverJuan Rincon.

Bobby Abreu had his second straight three-hit night and had anRBI single in the inning. He was caught stealing but was safewhen Bartlett misplayed catcher Joe Mauer's throw for an error,and Abreu scored on Melky Cabrera's two-run single up themiddle, which made it 7-0.

The Yankees had 14 hits and none from Alex Rodriguez, who wasback in the lineup after straining his left hamstring in acollision with Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau.

"It's important because you can't rely on one person," Torresaid. "Not only is not fair for that one person but he's notgoing to be able to do it able everyday. The key to having agood ballclub is to be able to share the wealth."

Silva failed to win his third straight start as he was touchedup for six runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"You always have to be careful with that kind of lineup," Silvasaid. "The first batter through nine, anybody can hurt you inthe lineup. I made a lot of mistakes, I left a lot of pitchesup. They made me pay for it."

While the Yankees have appeared to get it going offensively, thereverse has happened for the Twins. Minnesota scored 27 runsin a three-game winning streak last week but has just one run inits last three contests.

"We're having a really hard time offensively, just scoringruns," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We've been makingtoo many mental mistakes and some physical mistakes. We need tofind a way to score some runs."