New York @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2011 ) NY Yankees 8, Minnesota 4

THE STORY: The Yankees feel right at home in Minnesota. They’ll try to make it 10 wins in 11 games there as their four-game set with the Twins continues Friday night. New York won 8-4 Thursday behind three home runs to maintain its half-game lead over Boston in the AL East. The Yanks’ dominance of the Twins includes three playoff wins over the last two seasons, and three of four wins this year.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS-N, YES

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kevin Slowey (0-0, 4.91 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Phil Hughes (3-4, 6.55 ERA) –

Slowey gave up one run on two hits and a walk in two innings against Cleveland on Sunday, but the game was rained out after three innings. So his first official start comes Friday. It’s been a long road back to the rotation for Slowey, who won 35 games as a starter from 2008-10. He was moved to the bullpen this spring, then battled various injuries. He went on the DL in May with an abdominal strain. Upon being activated in late July, he was optioned to Triple-A Rochester. The Twins recalled him to replace Scott Baker, who went on the DL Tuesday with a muscle strain in his elbow.

Hughes has allowed four earned runs over his last three starts covering 18 innings, walking just three batters while fanning 13 in that span. If he keeps it up, he’ll stay in the five-man rotation the Yanks reverted to recently. But batters are still hitting .311 against him this season.

ABOUT THE TWINS (54-69): After going 5-for-8 with three homers and seven RBIs in the Detroit series, DH Jim Thome was held hitless against the Yankees Thursday, though he did walk and score a run. Joe Mauer started in right field for the first time after making 736 starts at catcher and 12 at first base. He went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.

ABOUT THE YANKEES (75-47): Slugger Alex Rodriguez, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee July 11, took batting practice and fielded ground balls Thursday but won’t return to the lineup until Saturday at the earliest, manager Joe Girardi said. Derek Jeter is 17-for-29 (.586) with five RBIs in his last seven games overall, and has an 11-game hitting streak at Minnesota, including the playoffs.

FINAL PITCH: Minnesota is just 27-31 at home.