Sabathia, Jeter lead Yankees past Twins in Game 1

NEW YORK (AP) — Derek Jeter got a big hit, just as he did in Octobers past at the famed ballpark across the street. CC Sabathia joined in the postseason fun. Even Alex Rodriguez broke out of his playoff rut.

It was like old times in the first postseason game at the new Yankee Stadium, with New York beating the tired Minnesota Twins 7-2 on Wednesday in the opener of their AL playoff series.

“Just like the old place,” Jeter said. “We couldn’t have drawn it up any better for us.”

After Jeter’s third-inning homer off loser Brian Duensing drew New York even at 2, Nick Swisher pulled a go-ahead double down the left-field line in the fourth that scored Robinson Cano from first as the Twins made a pair of poor throws.

Rodriguez had gone 0 for 29 in the postseason with runners on base dating to Game 4 of the 2004 AL championship series before chasing Duensing with an RBI single that made it 4-2 in the fifth.

On a night with sustained winds blowing to right-center at 20 mph, with gusts up to 43 mph, Hideki Matsui followed with a two-run homer into Monument Park on left-hander Francisco Liriano’s fourth pitch. New York went on to win its first playoff game since Joe Girardi replaced Joe Torre as manager after the 2007 season.

Rodriguez added another run-scoring single in the seventh against Jon Rauch following an error by first baseman Michael Cuddyer, with A-Rod’s drive hitting halfway up the right-field wall.

Once the Yankees got the lead, Sabathia made it stand up in his Yankees postseason debut.

“This is what you come here for,” Sabathia said. “It was electric tonight.”

Minnesota didn’t arrive at its hotel until nearly 4 a.m. and appeared to lack the energy that propelled the Twins during a 17-4 finish, which overcame a seven-game division deficit.

The teams get a day off before resuming Friday night.

It was Jeter, naturally, who hit the first home run in the Yankees’ $1.5 billion palace, where New York was a major league-best 57-24 at home during the regular season.

“You get a two-run lead quick, and as soon as you go back out, it’s a 2-2 ballgame with a homer,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “That’s a little deflating.”

The captain also got New York’s first hit, was on base four times with two hits and two walks, and scored three runs.

“That’s Derek Jeter at this time of the year,” Girardi said.

Sabathia, who had lost his last three playoff decisions for Cleveland and Milwaukee, didn’t disappoint. Wearing long sleeves on the blustery night, he got past a 22-pitch first inning and found a sharp cutter. Sabathia allowed one earned run and eight hits in 62‚Ñ3 innings, striking out eight and walking none.

He left with two on after 113 pitches, tipping his hat to a ballpark record crowd of 49,464. Phil Hughes came in and struck out Orlando Cabrera in a 10-pitch at-bat.

———

MinnesotaNew York

abrhbiabrhbi

Span cf5020Jeter ss2322

OCarer ss5120Damon lf4010

Mauer c4120Teixeir 1b4000

Cuddyr 1b4011ARdrgz 3b4122

Kubel rf4000HMatsu dh3112

DlmYn lf4000Posada c4010

BHarrs dh4010Cano 2b4100

Tolbert 3b3000Swisher rf4011

Punto 2b3020Gardnr cf0000

MeCarr cf-rf4110

Totals362101Totals33797

Minnesota002000000—2

New York00213010x—7

E—Cuddyer (1). DP—Minnesota 1, New York 1. LOB—Minnesota 9, New York 5. 2B—Span (1), Mauer (1), Swisher (1). HR—Jeter (1), H.Matsui (1). SB—O.Cabrera (1).

IPHRERBBSO

Minnesota

Duensing L,0-14 2-375513

Liriano212111

Rauch1-310010

Mahay100001

New York

Sabathia W,1-06 2-382108

P.Hughes H,1 2-310002

Coke1-300000

Chamberlain1-300000

Ma.Rivera110012

HBP—by Sabathia (Tolbert). WP—Duensing, Sabathia. PB—Posada 2. Umpires—Home, Tim Tschida; First, Chuck Meriwether; Second, Mark Wegner; Third, Paul Emmel; Right, Phil Cuzzi; Left, Jim Joyce. T—3:38. A—49,464.