Pettitte, bats propel Yanks to 7-1 win over Twins

I was out enjoying a classically gorgeous Manhattan spring day for this one — a 7-1 Yankee win over the Twins — and only managed to see the bottom of the 7th. Thankfully I picked the perfect half-inning, and was treated to two two-run BOMBS from Mark Teixeira and Jorge Posada. A-Rod himself missed going back-to-back with Tex by what must have been less than a foot, and had to settle for a double. As Mike noted yesterday, Alex had had three just-missed HRs on the season prior to the game, and so in alternate Yankee world he’d have eight blasts by now. Just sayin’.

The Tex blast was a moon shot that reached the luxury suite section, and I’m not sure I’ve seen a ball land there previously. Posada’s was crushed to dead center, and after clearing the fence took one of the most insane hops I’ve ever seen, bouncing probably 15 feet up in the air and landing perfectly in the outstretched hand of a fan. The odds of that guy getting that home run ball like that had to be infinitesimally small. Also, remember how I was praising Minnesota’s pen in the series preview? So much for that.

Andy Pettitte apparently had no lingering effects from his inflamed elbow, tossing 6 1/3 innings of two-hit, shutout ball, lowering his ERA to 1.79 and joining Phil Hughes in the 5-0 club. I don’t know what kind of magic elixir Pettitte has found this season, but his continued dominance has just been a thing of beauty.

And so the Yanks pick up another series win and try for the sweep this afternoon. Unfortunately, the Twins get to feast on Sergio Mitre while the Yanks get to deal with Nick Blackburn, yet another soft-tosser who they seem to have trouble getting to from time to time. On paper this game looks to be all Twins; I will be pleasantly surprised if the Yanks pull out a third straight win.

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