Twins Breeze Past Yanks 5-1

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
N.Y. Yankees	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0		1	8	1
Minnesota	2	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	X		5	9	0

With today's 5-1 loss in Minnesota the Yanks dropped back to .500 for the year at 28 and 28. Darrell Rasner started and easily had his worst start of the season. He wasn't terrible, but he wasn't great either. Rasner allowed four runs and eight hits in 5.1 IP, also walking two and striking out five. He battled and kept the Yanks in the game, though.

Scott Patterson made his Major League debut, and after starting off nicely had a rough second inning. He relieved Rasner in the 6th with men on 1st and 2nd with one out and got out of it without allowing a runner. Patterson retired the leadoff man in the 7th, then he walked Mark Redmond, struck out Justin Morneau, but then gave up a big RBI triple to Michael Cuddyer. That would be it for Patterson. His final line was 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K.

Chris Britton somehow found his way into the game and pitched very well, retiring all four batters that he faced. He'll be rewarded by being sent to Scranton later in the week.

IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Rasner (L, 3-2) 5.1 8 4 4 2 5 0 2.67 Patterson 1.1 1 1 1 2 2 0 6.75 Britton 1.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.50

TWINS PITCHING

Twins starting pitcher Nick Blackburn had to leave the game in the top of the 5th because he got hit in the face by a Bobby Abreu line drive. He didn't lose any teeth, and nothing was broken, so he might not even miss a start.

The only run the Yankees scored came on a Derek Jeter solo homer in the 5th. Jeter also walked twice on the day.

The best chance the Yanks had to put some runs on the board came in the top of the 3rd when they loaded the bases with one out for the heart of the order. But Alex Rodriguez struck out and Hideki Matsui grounded out to end the threat.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	.290
Jeter, SS	2	1	1	1	2	0	0	.271
Abreu, RF	3	0	1	0	1	1	1	.299
Rodriguez, 3B	4	0	1	0	0	1	4	.287
Matsui, DH	4	0	0	0	0	0	6	.330
Betemit, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	.237
Cano, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.220
Moeller, C	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	.255
a-Giambi, PH	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.245
Cabrera, CF	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	.265
Totals	33	1	8	1	3	6	15
a-Singled for Moeller in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Damon (17, Blackburn), Moeller (3, Blackburn). HR: Jeter (3, 5th inning off Blackburn, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 2; Jeter 4; Abreu; Rodriguez; Cano; Moeller 2; Giambi; Cabrera. RBI: Jeter (26). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Matsui 3; Cabrera. GIDP: Moeller; Damon. Team LOB: 8.

TWINS OFFENSE

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Michael Cuddyer (3-for-4, 3B, 3 RBI)

HONORABLE MENTION: Justin Morneau (2-for-4, 2B, 3B, 2R)

GOATS OF THE GAME: Hideki Matsui and Alex Rodriguez for leaving a small army on the bases. And Melky Cabrera, nice throw.

Andy Pettitte takes the mound for the Yankees tomorrow as they look to take this four game series in Minnesota. The veteran Livan Hernandez starts for the Twins. The game will be on YES, ESPN, and WCBS 880, and first pitch is set for 7:05 p.m..