(My Sportsbook) - Andy Pettitte tries to pitch the New York Yankees into the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2004 this evening when they attempt to complete a three-game sweep in their ALDS matchup against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome.

New York took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five set with a thrilling win on Friday, as Alex Rodriguez hit a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning, and Mark Teixeira hit a laser shot in the 11th to lift the Yankees to a 4-3 win.

The Yanks are now 2-0 in an ALDS for the first time since sweeping Texas en route to winning the 1999 World Series.

Nick Punto and Denard Span hit run-scoring singles in the eighth inning to give the Twins a 3-1 lead, but the Yankees rallied in the ninth against Minnesota closer Joe Nathan.

"It's really disappointing," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I've been walked off enough times here. Some of the things that happened out there were pretty disappointing. Pretty good too. It was a good baseball game. A lot of things could have went either way, but didn't go our way again tonight."

Teixeira began with a single, and Rodriguez followed by crushing a fastball on the outer part of the plate over the center field fence to tie the game.

Each team had a chance in the next couple half-innings but couldn't capitalize. The Yankees had pinch-runner Brett Gardner on third with one away in the 10th until Johnny Damon lined into an inning-ending double play, while the Twins loaded the bases with no outs in the 11th but came up empty.

Teixeira then put a quick end to the contest, as he led off the home 11th with a line shot off Jose Mijares (0-1) down the left field line. The ball bounced off the top of the wall for a homer, handing the Yankees another thrilling win. New York recorded 15 walk-off victories during the regular season.

"I hit it hard, but there was so much top spin I thought there was no chance it was going to get out," Teixeira said. "I was running hard, making sure I got two. Then the crowd started going nuts. I figured it was a home run."

David Robertson (1-0) took the win for getting out of the jam in the top of the 11th, while Mijares, who had induced the inning-ending liner from Damon in the 10th, got the loss.

Rodriguez finished 2-for-4 with three runs batted in for the Yankees, who are seeking their first postseason series win since 2004, when they won an ALDS matchup with the Twins in four games.

Much maligned for his ability to perform in the playoffs in his time with the Yankees, Rodriguez is 4-for-8 with a home run, five RBI and two runs scored through the first two games of this series. In fact in his last four postseason games, he is 8-for-17 with a pair of home runs, six RBI and four runs scored.

"I'm having fun," Rodriguez said. "I think the most important thing is for me to go out, be in the mix somehow and have good at-bats. I'll keep doing what I'm doing and not really worry about results."

Pettitte, meanwhile, is no stranger to postseason play, having recorded a 14-9 mark with a 3.96 ERA over 35 playoff starts. In his lone October outing against the Twins, back in 2003, Pettitte struck out 10 batters over seven innings of one-run ball.

"Big games don't seem to get Andy rattled," manager Joe Girardi said. "His focus seems to even get greater."

The 37-year-old left-hander had another terrific season, as he went 14-8 with a 4.16 ERA. However, he lost two of his last three decisions.

Minnesota hands the ball to righty Carl Pavano, who spent four tumultuous, injury-plagued years with the Yankees. Pavano signed with Cleveland this offseason, but was traded to Minnesota for the stretch run and went 5-4 with a 4.64 ERA in 12 starts for the Twins.

Pavano was signed to a four-year, $39.95 million deal by the Yankees in December of 2004, but the right-hander's career in the Bronx never really took off. Injuries limited him to just 26 starts over the course of the contract, 17 of which came in year one, and Pavano finished with a mere 9-8 ledger.

"I mean, it's tough," said Pavano, who won a combined 14 games this season between the Indians and Twins. "It's definitely a black period in my career -- four years where I was kind of just treading water for awhile there. But obviously, with the way this year has gone, I have been able to go out there with sustained health and be successful. I got through the year, and everything has come full circle. I'm getting a start in the playoffs, I can't ask for much more than that."

Minnesota has lost all nine games it has played with the Yankees this season.

Tonight could also be the final game ever played at the Metrodome, as the Twins will play in new Target Field starting next season. The Yanks have won all four postseason games they have played at the Metrodome.

The Twins also haven't won a postseason game at home since Game 1 of the 2002 ALCS against the Angels, a series they lost in five games.