Bronx, NY (My Sportsbook) - CC Sabathia was dazzling on the mound, and Derek Jeter scored three times and hit a two-run homer to lead New York in a 7-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins in Game 1 of the American League Division Series from Yankee Stadium. Sabathia (1-0) was touched for two runs -- one earned -- on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings and set a postseason career high with eight strikeouts. Jeter finished 2-for-2 with a pair of walks for the Yankees, who moved to 8-0 against the Twins on the year. Alex Rodriguez, mired in a 7-for-44 slump over the past three playoff series coming in, went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Hideki Matsui added a two-run homer for New York. Nick Swisher also finished with an RBI for the Yankees, who won the AL East for the 10th time in the last 12 years with a MLB-best 103 wins. Michael Cuddyer had the lone RBI for the Twins, who were seven games out of first place on Labor Day and became the first team to claim a postseason berth trailing by three with four games to play. Orlando Cabrera and Joe Mauer both had two hits and scored in the setback. Brian Duensing (0-1) surrendered five runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. |
