NEW YORK - Chien-Ming Wang won his fifth straight decision and Robinson Cano hit a two-run homer, leading the New York Yankees to an 8-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.
Alex Rodriguez played third base for New York, one night after leaving the game with a strained left hamstring. The two-time MVP went 0-for-4 with a strikeout but looked comfortable in the field, starting an important double play with a fine pickup on the backhand side.
A-Rod was pulled after the sixth with the Yankees up 8-0.
A resurgent Bobby Abreu had three hits for the second consecutive game, helping New York win for the fourth time in 13 games. Derek Jeter had three hits and two RBIs, and Melky Cabrera added a two-run single.
Newly promoted Edwar Ramirez finished off the shutout by striking out all three batters in the ninth, quite a major league debut. He fanned Michael Cuddyer, AL MVP Justin Morneau and Lew Ford.
Torii Hunter was ejected by plate umpire Ron Kulpa in the eighth, ending a rough night for Minnesota's All-Star center fielder. He had been called out on strikes in the previous inning.
Hunter, in the dugout when he was tossed, charged out at Kulpa and screamed in the umpire's face, pointing and gesturing wildly while being restrained by a coach.
The Twins, who have totaled one run while losing three straight games, dropped to 9-27 against New York in the regular season since the start of 2002, including 2-15 at Yankee Stadium.
Minnesota was 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, one night after going 0-for-7 in such situations.
Cano connected in the fourth off Carlos Silva (6-9), who won his previous two starts.
One night after Roger Clemens earned his 350th win, Wang (8-4) pitched four-hit ball for seven innings to win for the seventh time in eight decisions. He walked four, matching a season high, and struck out three.
Scott Proctor and Ramirez completed the five-hitter, New York's second shutout this season.
Minnesota was blanked for the seventh time, most in the AL.
The Yankees broke it open with five runs in the sixth. Posada singled and went all the way to third when Hunter, a Gold Glove center fielder, let the ball skip past him for a two-base error.
Posada scored on Silva's wild pitch, and Hideki Matsui snapped a 1-for-17 skid with a double. Abreu's RBI single made it 5-0.
Cabrera added a two-run single off Juan Rincon, and Jeter capped the rally with an RBI single.
Silva gave up six runs - five earned - and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings.
Notes: Yankees manager Joe Torre said Rodriguez would probably be the DH on Wednesday afternoon. The slugger has played in every game this season. ... Bartlett had been 16-for-16 on stolen-base attempts this season. ... Abreu had two hits and a walk against Silva, making him 6-for-8 against the right-hander. ... Cano is 3-for-6 with a walk and a hit by pitch while batting ninth the past two games. ... The Yankees have won 11 of 14 home games.
Yankees 8
Twins 0
Up next
Twins at Yankees, 1 p.m., YES
A-Rod was pulled after the sixth with the Yankees up 8-0.
A resurgent Bobby Abreu had three hits for the second consecutive game, helping New York win for the fourth time in 13 games. Derek Jeter had three hits and two RBIs, and Melky Cabrera added a two-run single.
Newly promoted Edwar Ramirez finished off the shutout by striking out all three batters in the ninth, quite a major league debut. He fanned Michael Cuddyer, AL MVP Justin Morneau and Lew Ford.
Torii Hunter was ejected by plate umpire Ron Kulpa in the eighth, ending a rough night for Minnesota's All-Star center fielder. He had been called out on strikes in the previous inning.
Hunter, in the dugout when he was tossed, charged out at Kulpa and screamed in the umpire's face, pointing and gesturing wildly while being restrained by a coach.
The Twins, who have totaled one run while losing three straight games, dropped to 9-27 against New York in the regular season since the start of 2002, including 2-15 at Yankee Stadium.
Minnesota was 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, one night after going 0-for-7 in such situations.
Cano connected in the fourth off Carlos Silva (6-9), who won his previous two starts.
One night after Roger Clemens earned his 350th win, Wang (8-4) pitched four-hit ball for seven innings to win for the seventh time in eight decisions. He walked four, matching a season high, and struck out three.
Scott Proctor and Ramirez completed the five-hitter, New York's second shutout this season.
Minnesota was blanked for the seventh time, most in the AL.
The Yankees broke it open with five runs in the sixth. Posada singled and went all the way to third when Hunter, a Gold Glove center fielder, let the ball skip past him for a two-base error.
Posada scored on Silva's wild pitch, and Hideki Matsui snapped a 1-for-17 skid with a double. Abreu's RBI single made it 5-0.
Cabrera added a two-run single off Juan Rincon, and Jeter capped the rally with an RBI single.
Silva gave up six runs - five earned - and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings.
Notes: Yankees manager Joe Torre said Rodriguez would probably be the DH on Wednesday afternoon. The slugger has played in every game this season. ... Bartlett had been 16-for-16 on stolen-base attempts this season. ... Abreu had two hits and a walk against Silva, making him 6-for-8 against the right-hander. ... Cano is 3-for-6 with a walk and a hit by pitch while batting ninth the past two games. ... The Yankees have won 11 of 14 home games.
Yankees 8
Twins 0
Up next
Twins at Yankees, 1 p.m., YES
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.