Minnesota @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 7, 2010 ) NY Yankees 5, Minnesota 2
The New York Yankees have been in this situation before.
Unfortunately for the Minnesota Twins, so have they.
The Yankees are one win away from eliminating the Twins from the American League Division Series for the fourth time in the last eight years. New York gets its first chance to end the best-of-5 series tonight in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees eliminated the Twins in this round in 2003, 2004 and 2009. Minnesota had expectations that this time would produce a different result.
The Twins, who easily won the AL Central Division because of a strong second half, had home-field advantage and were 53-28 in their first season at Target Field for the best home record in the AL.
Two games later, it looks as if Minnesota's hopes have been dashed again. The Yankees, who qualified for the playoffs as the wild card team, used clutch hitting late in both games to seize control of the series.
New York broke seventh-inning ties Wednesday and Thursday, taking the opener 6-4 and winning Game 2 by a 5-2 score.
While the Twins are keeping a stiff upper lip, there's little doubt their lack of success against the Yankees, and in the playoffs in general, is in their heads. Minnesota hasn't won a postseason game since beating New York in Game 1 of the 2004 ALDS.
The Twins have lost 11 consecutive playoff games, including eight in a row against the Yankees.
New York has outplayed Minnesota in every aspect of the game. The Yankees rallied from a 3-0 deficit in Game 1 with a four-run sixth inning. The Twins tied the game, but Mark Teixeira's two-run homer in the seventh gave New York the win.
Game 2 was also tied in the seventh before Lance Berkman's RBI double put the Yankees ahead for good.
Meanwhile, the Twins have only experienced frustration. Minnesota batters are hitless in 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected by home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt following Berkman's double in Game 2.
The Twins thought Carl Pavano had struck out Berkman, but Wendelstedt called a close pitch a ball. Berkman's game-winning hit came on the next pitch.
The Twins are counting on converted reliever Brian Duensing (10-3) to stay alive in the series. The left-hander's performance since being moved into the rotation in late July is a major reason why Minnesota ran away with the division title. Duensing was 7-2 with a 3.05 ERA in 13 starts.
Duensing has made three relief appearances against the Yankees this season, allowing two earned runs in four innings.
New York’s Phil Hughes (18-8) pitched well in his first full season as a starter. The 24-year-old right-hander is capable of shutting down anyone. Hughes struck out 146 and allowed only 162 hits in 176 1/3 innings.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi cut down Hughes' workload late in the regular season to keep him strong for the playoffs. Hughes, who hasn't pitched against the Twins this season, was given extra time off between starts in September.