Yankees take series lead, 8-4

Kevin Brown shut down the Twins and gave New York a 2-1 lead in the series.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin Brown already apologized to the New York Yankees for his foolish injury. This was an even better way to make up for it.
Backed by Derek Jeter's three RBIs and a relentless offense, Brown threw six strong innings to lead the Yankees past the frustrated Minnesota Twins 8-4 on Friday night for a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five AL playoff series.
Hoping to save Minnesota's season, ace Johan Santana will start on three days' rest today against Javier Vazquez.
Williams extends record
Bernie Williams extended a major league record by hitting his 20th postseason homer, a two-run shot off Carlos Silva that put the Yankees up 5-1 in the sixth.
Jeter went 3-for-5 and Hideki Matsui also homered for New York -- now just one win away from a bitter rematch with the rival Boston Red Sox in the AL championship series.
The 39-year-old Brown's first season in New York has been tainted by an ailing back and an embarrassing tantrum in which he punched a clubhouse wall and broke his non-throwing hand. That was on Sept. 3, and Brown pitched just twice more after that.
The Yankees were angry about his outburst, but he cleared the air by apologizing a few days later. And because of his intensity and experience, Brown's teammates were plenty confident when he took the mound for this ultra-important game.
Brown showed no signs of health problems. Against 23 batters, he threw 22 balls and didn't walk anyone. A first-inning home run by Jacque Jones was the only one of eight hits allowed that did any damage.
The Yankees showed they can do more than hit the long ball.
Five straight singles
Jorge Posada, John Olerud, Miguel Cairo, Kenny Lofton and Jeter hit consecutive two-out singles in the second inning, putting the Yankees in front 3-1 and muting the crowd of 54,803.
Silva failed to get an out in the sixth, allowing 10 hits and six runs.
Jeter bounced a single to center off rookie Jesse Crain with two outs in the sixth to drive in Posada and Olerud and make it 7-1.
Minnesota scored three times in the ninth, but Mariano Rivera got three straight outs after entering with the bases loaded. It was not a save situation for Rivera, who blew a save chance in New York's Game 2 victory.
The Twins had their chances against Brown, but Michael Cuddyer left four runners on base in his first two at-bats and Jones grounded into a double play in the third.
Costly base running
Then they got desperate in the sixth. Torii Hunter tried to stretch a leadoff double when Matsui fumbled the ball in left, but he was easily thrown out. Corey Koskie ended the inning by getting tagged out at second when he tried to stretch a single to center.
NEW YORKMINNESOTA
abrhbiabrhbi
Jeter ss5033ShStwrt lf4011
ARdrgz 3b5000JJones rf5121
Shffield rf5020THnter cf4010
Crosby rf0000Mrneau 1b4000
Matsui lf5231Koskie 3b3120
BWllms cf5112LFord dh3110
Posada c4220CGzmn ss4130
Olerud 1b3210Cddyer 2b4021
Cairo 2b3111HBlnco c2000
Lofton dh4011LeCroy c1000
Offrmn ph1001
Totals398148Totals354124
New York030004100--8
Minnesota100000003--4
E--Jeter (1), CGuzman (1). DP--New York 1, Minnesota 2. LOB--New York 6, Minnesota 7. 2B--Jeter (1), Sheffield (1), JJones (1), THunter (1). HR--Matsui (1), BWilliams (1), JJones (2). SB--Jeter (1), CGuzman (1). CS--Sheffield (1). S--Cairo. SF--ShStewart.
IPHRERBBSO
New York
KBrown W,1-0681101
Quantrill1 2-320001
Heredia1-302200
Sturtze021100
MRivera100000
Minnesota
CSilva L,0-15106601
Romero2-301111
Crain1-310000
Mulholland331100
Heredia pitched to 2 batters in the 9th, Sturtze pitched to 2 batters in the 9th, CSilva pitched to 3 batters in the 6th. HBP--by Heredia (LFord), by Heredia (Koskie). Umpires--Home, Brian Gorman; First, Mike Everitt; Second, Jerry Crawford; Third, Paul Nauert; Left, Charlie Reliford; Right, Mark Wegner. T--3:02. A--54,803.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.