Abreu sends surging Yanks to 9th straight home win

[July 23, 2008]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Bobby Abreu hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth and drove in three runs, leading the surging New York Yankees past the Minnesota Twins 8-2 on Tuesday night, their ninth consecutive victory at home.

Derek Jeter added a two-run double and Robinson Cano continued his typical second-half tear with two RBI singles, his fifth straight multihit game since the All-Star break.

New York's effective bullpen came through again after Darrell Rasner was pulled in the sixth, and the Yankees (55-45) won their fifth straight overall to go 10 games over .500 for the first time this season. They moved within 3 1/2 games of first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.

The home winning streak is New York's longest since a nine-game run in May 2005.

Minnesota, which began the night one-half game behind Chicago in the AL Central, dropped to 3-18 at Yankee Stadium since the start of the 2002 season. The Twins (55-45) have lost seven straight series in the Bronx.

Trailing 2-1 in the sixth, New York got a rally going against Kevin Slowey (6-7), who was pitching for the first time in 12 days.

Johnny Damon led off with a single and Abreu hit a two-run homer with one out. Alex Rodriguez then singled to chase Slowey, who was 4-0 in his previous six starts.

Rodriguez stole second and Dennys Reyes walked Jason Giambi before Cano's RBI single made it 4-2.

The Yankees broke it open with four runs in the seventh.

Light-hitting rookie Brett Gardner drew a leadoff walk from Jesse Crain, and Damon reached on an error by third baseman Brian Buscher. Jeter grounded a two-run double down the third-base line and Abreu followed with an RBI double.

Jason Giambi's run-scoring single off Brian Bass made it 8-2.

David Robertson (2-0) relieved Rasner with runners at the corners in the sixth and retired Delmon Young on a grounder to keep New York's deficit at 2-1.

Jose Veras pitched a scoreless seventh, Kyle Farnsworth struck out three in a hitless eighth and Dan Giese finished.

Rodriguez hit a leadoff double in the second and scored on a one-out single by Cano, who is 12-for-23 since the All-Star break. The second baseman is batting .339 after the break for his career.

Minnesota went ahead 2-1 in the sixth. Carlos Gomez led off with a double, went to third on Denard Span's infield single and scored when Giambi couldn't handle Cano's rushed throw to first.

The error was charged to Giambi, who later made a nice play on Jason Kubel's RBI groundout.

Notes: Minnesota RF Michael Cuddyer, sidelined since June 28 with a strained tendon in his left index finger, had a CT scan on his knuckles that did not reveal a tear. Twins doctors will determine a course of treatment, and the team isn't sure when he will be able to return. ... Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire dropped the slumping Gomez from the leadoff spot to No. 9 in the order. ... Yankees C Jorge Posada had his injured throwing shoulder examined by New York Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek. The Yankees said they hoped to have information Wednesday on whether Posada will need season-ending surgery. ... New York manager Joe Girardi said he hopes Damon, just back from a left shoulder injury, might be able to play the outfield this weekend in Boston. ... Yankees C Chad Moeller made his second start since June 2.

[Associated Press; By MIKE FITZPATRICK]

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