(My Sportsbook) - If the New York Yankees wind up losing this American League Division Series to the Minnesota Twins, they are going to look back at Game One and wonder what could have been.

Twins starter Johan Santana, who had as good a second half of the season as any pitcher in the history of baseball, was there for the taking. The Yanks managed nine hits off of the potential Cy Young Award winner, but were unable to crack the scoreboard against him in Minnesota's 2-0 win.

"It was one of those funny games," said Alex Rodriguez. "We hit the ball hard, but the five double plays kept [Santana's] pitch count down. You have to tip your hat to him, and tomorrow is another day. Nothing has been easy for us all season and we don't expect it to start now."

Santana also hit a batter and allowed a walk, but was bailed out time and again by a double play, as New York set an ALDS record by hitting into five double plays, stranding seven runners on base.

"We had many opportunities," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Santana probably didn't have his best stuff tonight, but when he needed to get a ground ball, he got it."

In the first inning, Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield reached with one out, but Bernie Williams struck out and Rodriguez was thrown out trying to steal third on the pitch to end the inning.

Then in the second, Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui singled to start the frame, but the Yankees failed to capitalize. With one out and Posada at third, John Olerud hit a fly ball to center field. Torii Hunter made the catch and then gunned down Posada trying to score on the play to end the threat.

"We attacked him today, but the balls went right at people," Posada said. "Luck wasn't on our side."

Williams singled to open the Yankees' fourth, but Posada followed and grounded into a double play.

With Olerud at first and one out in the fifth, Derek Jeter grounded into a double play. The Yankees had runners on first and second in the sixth, but Santana retired Hideki Matsui on a grounder to second to end the frame.

Trailing by a run in the seventh inning, the Yankees thought they had finally reached Santana when Ruben Sierra lofted a shot to the left field seats to lead off the frame. However, after a discussion the ball was ruled foul and Sierra eventually struck out. Miguel Cairo doubnled later in the frame, but was stranded there when Santana retired Jeter, the final batter he faced, on a grounder.

Further proof that this was just not the Bronx Bombers' night came in the eighth when Rodriguez led off the eighth with a long fly ball to center field that looked to be gone. However, Hunter struck again, as he climbed the wall and brought the ball back with a tremendous play. Juan Rincon then walked Sheffield, but Williams grounded into a double play to end the inning.

"He (Hunter) saved them two runs in the game - the throw and the catch," said Rodriguez. "That would've been a leadoff double for me. Pitching and defense usually wins, so you tip your cap to them."

Mike Mussina pitched brilliantly for New York, but was tagged with the loss, as he allowed two runs and seven hits over seven innings. He also struck out seven and walked a batter.

So, the Yankees, as they were in all three playoff series a year ago, are down one game to none. This year, though, Andy Pettitte, as he did in all three series last year, is not going to give New York that bounce-back win this season. Now the burden falls on the shoulders of righthander Jon Lieber, who was not even in the league last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

"This is what I have been waiting for, for 11 years," said Lieber, who was 11-3 at Yankee Stadium this season. "This is what it's all about."

Being in this position many times before, no one in the Yankee clubhouse was ready to concede anything.

"It's pretty tough, but we've been in this situation before and we expect to bounce back from it," Williams said. "It's just one game. We've got a long way to go."

But, can Lieber give the Yanks that solid outing that has always been there for them in Game Two? If he doesn't, this series could be over, as the great Santana is due to start again, possibly as soon as Game Four.