Burnett pitches past Twins for eighth win

The Yankees (50-34) beat the Twins (43-42) in a one-run ballgame for the fourth time this season, and A.J. Burnett continued his recent run of strong pitching.

Quick ‘Cap:
Brett Gardner continued to be a pest to the Twins as he came up with a two-out, two-run single in the second inning after Nick Swisher’s RBI groundout. The Twins scored a run in the third on two wild pitches, and then one more on Joe Mauer’s double.

Derek Jeter gave the Yanks an insurance run in the fifth with a leadoff double and then later scoring on Alex Rodriguez’s single. It proved to be the difference as the Twins scored just once in the seventh on Mauer’s solo homer.

Michael Kay’s “Philthies” (Phil Coke and Phil Hughes) combined for four outs in the seventh and eighth, and Mariano Rivera recorded the last four outs for his 22nd save of the season. Full box score here.

Thoughts:
The Yankees must have the Twins’ number this season. They’ve beaten them in all six matchups, and five have been within two runs. Now they have another chance to sweep today.

Line of the Night:
Rivera: 1-1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K. He doesn’t mess around.

Up Next:
Alfredo Aceves (5-1, 2.03) can clinch the sweep with a win today against Francisco Liriano (4-8, 5.49).