AL PLAYOFFS Yankees thinking big after trouncing Twins

New York capped the series victory with an 8-1 win.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The New York Yankees are expected to win it all. They sure look as though they can.
David Wells and the Yankees breezed into the AL championship series, blowing out the Minnesota Twins 8-1 on Sunday.
New York hit four doubles in a six-run fourth inning and wrapped up the first-round playoff series 3-1.
"You knew it was only a matter of time before this offense got going," Jason Giambi said.
The big-budget Yankees are under increasing pressure to win the World Series after going consecutive seasons without a title. They put themselves in a great position by finishing off the Twins on Sunday.
New York has two days off to rest before hosting Game 1 of the ALCS against either Boston or Oakland. Meanwhile, the Red Sox and Athletics play a decisive Game 5 tonight after making a cross-country trip to Oakland.
Pedro Martinez pitches for Boston against Barry Zito, so neither ace would be ready to face the Yankees on Wednesday.
"I'd like to believe we have an advantage, but when you get to the postseason the adrenaline gets you over that stuff," manager Joe Torre said.
Controlled celebration
After hugs and handshakes on the field, the Yankees celebrated -- it was controlled, but there was plenty of champagne -- in a crowded clubhouse.
"It's exciting for me to finally enjoy one," said Giambi, who had never won a playoff series. "But it isn't just for one round."
After a sloppy loss in Game 1 last Tuesday that brought back memories of last year's first-round flop against Anaheim, New York beat the Twins three straight times.
The Yankees never panicked, even if some of their fans did.
"It's a series," shortstop Derek Jeter said, "not one game."
The Yankees rediscovered their dominant postseason form in a hurry. Every starter had a hit Sunday, and New York knocked out the Twins' best pitcher, Johan Santana.
"They're the best team in the league," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Somebody has to knock them off."
Strong showing
Wells improved to 9-2 lifetime in the postseason by going 72/3 innings for the Yankees. New York made it easy for him, sending 12 batters to the plate in the fourth.
Bernie Williams and Hideki Matsui each hit an RBI double, and Nick Johnson added a two-run double. Alfonso Soriano's bloop two-run single made it 6-0.
"Six-nothing in the playoffs is like 12-0 in the regular season," Minnesota's Torii Hunter said.
Jeter later homered for the Yankees. After losing Game 1 at home 3-1, New York outscored Minnesota 15-3.
"They're a confident bunch," Gardenhire said. "If they start hitting, they win a lot of games."
The Twins, who beat Oakland in the first round last year, will have to settle for two straight AL Central titles after back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 1969-70.
"I'm proud of our guys," said Gardenhire, who watched his team erase a 71/2-game deficit at the All-Star break with a major league-best 46-23 record in the second half.
Bad inning
A leg cramp limited Santana's Game 1 outing to four shutout innings. After retiring 10 of his first 11 batters, his success came to a screeching end with one out in the fourth.
A stunned, silenced crowd of 55,875 watched the Yankees bash balls all over the field as the Twins dropped their third straight postseason home game -- including a Game 2 loss to the Angels in last year's ALCS.
The four doubles in the inning set a division series record. Santana allowed six hits and a walk in 32/3 innings, striking out three.
"Johan's a nasty guy, and they hit him hard," Hunter said. "I can't believe that."
Gardenhire made a couple of lineup changes, hoping to jump-start a stagnant offense. It didn't help. Leadoff man Shannon Stewart (.400) and Hunter (.429), who was moved to the cleanup spot, were the only ones who hit the ball much in the series.
In six regular-season starts with the Yankees against Minnesota, Wells is 6-0 with a 0.68 ERA -- including a perfect game. That's four earned runs in 522/3 innings, meaning he was merely four outs from throwing complete games in all of them.
NEW YORKMINNESOTA
abrhbiabrhbi
ASrano 2b5022ShStwrt lf4010
Jeter ss4121Rivas 2b4000
JaGbi dh4120Mntkw 1b4010
BWllms cf5111THnter cf4130
Posada c5120Przyns c4020
Matsui lf5111Cddyer dh4011
ABoone 3b4110JJones rf4000
JRivra rf3110Koskie 3b4010
NJhnsn 1b4112CGzmn ss4000
Totals398137Totals36191
New York000600011--8
Minnesota000100000--1
E--Hawkins (2). DP--Minnesota 1. LOB--New York 7, Minnesota 8. 2B--JaGiambi 2 (2), BWilliams (2), Matsui (1), NJohnson (1), ShStewart (2). HR--Jeter (1). SB--ABoone (1).
IPHRERBBSO
New York
DWells W,1-07 2-381105
GWhite1 1-310001
Minnesota
Santana L,0-13 2-366613
Rincon010020
Milton3 1-320002
Hawkins121101
Guardado121102
Rincon pitched to 3 batters in the 4th.
PB--Pierzynski. Umpires--Home, Gary Darling; First, Tim Welke; Second, Greg Gibson; Third, Randy Marsh; Left, Eric Cooper; Right, Wally Bell. T--2:49. A--55,875.