Yankees Power Past Twins 6-3

Andy Pettitte was dominant and the Yankees (89-64) lived by the long ball in their 6-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins (64-90) on Monday night. Pettitte pitched six innings of shutout ball gave up six hits and struck out three before he was pulled due to a strict pitch limit; he threw 88 in the win and now stands at 5-3 with a 2.71 ERA.

The Yankees got right on the board in the first inning off of Twins starter Liam Hendriks. Derek Jeter walked to lead off the game. Ichiro followed with a double, putting runners at second and third. After A-Rod popped out to right, Robinson Cano grounded out scoring the Yankees first run.  The next batter Nick Swisher drilled a two run home run giving the Yankees a 3-0 lead. It was Swisher’s 23^rd of the season.

The Yankees would hit three more home runs off of Hendriks, all solo shots. Curtis Granderson in the 4^th inning, his 40^th of the year, Raul Ibanez in the 7^th inning his 18^th of the year and Eric Chavez later in the 7^th, his 14^th.

The first Minnesota run came when Minnesota shortstop Pedro Flormion hit a solo home run off of Cory Wade in the 8^th inning; it was Flormion’s first career home run. In the ninth the Twins added two more when Chris Parmalee drilled a two run triple to deep center field off of David Robertson, the two runs were charged to Justin Thomas.

Derek Jeter extended his hitting streak to 18 games with his single in the top of the ninth.

The Yankees will play the Twins again on Tuesday night. Phil Hughes (16-12 4.05) will start for the Yankees while Esmerling Vasquez (0-2 6.75) starts for the Twins. Pregame coverage begins at 7:30, first pitch at 8:05 right here on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.