Yankees-Twins Score: Ivan Nova Pitches Seven Scoreless Innings In 3-0 Victory

Maybe that No. 2 starter the New York Yankees have been trying to identify all season has been there all along. Oh, except for most of the month of July, that is, when the Yankees shuffled him off to AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre thinking they had no room for him.

If you haven't figured it out by now, it is looking more and more like that No. 2 guy in their rotation behind CC Sabathia is 24-year-old rookie right-hander Ivan Nova, who won his ninth straight decision Saturday in a 3-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Nova was brilliant, scattering five hits over seven shutout innings.

Nova (13-4) now leads all rookies in victories. That despite being sent to AAA after winning a July 1 start that was his fourth straight victory. Since returning the big leagues on July 30 Nova has reeled off five victories in five starts, with only one of those games being a less-than-stellar performance.

"He pitched great. His slider was really, really good," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said about Nova.

Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira hit back-to-back home runs with two outs in the seventh for New York, which took three of four from Minnesota and have won eight of 11 overall. The Yankees still own a half-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.

Joe Mauer had three hits for the Twins, losers in six of their last nine games.

The outing for Minnesota's Blackburn turned out to be a brief cameo as he departed with a right lateral forearm strain after walking the bases loaded with one out in the second inning.

Anthony Swarzak took over on the mound and pitched out of the jam, striking out Eduardo Nunez and retiring Derek Jeter on a fly ball to right field to keep the game scoreless.

The Yankees loaded the bases again in the fifth, but a returning Alex Rodriguez popped up the first pitch from Phil Dumatrait (1-2) to end the inning.

Rodriguez, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday, hadn't played for New York since July 7 due to a torn meniscus in his right knee that required surgery.

Nova bailed out his defense in the bottom of the frame. After Thome led off with a single, Danny Valencia lofted a fly ball to the gap in right- center. Granderson and Nick Swisher converged on the ball, but neither caught it. The play was ruled a double. Nova, though, struck out both Rene Tosoni and Matt Tolbert swinging before Drew Butera grounded out weakly to first base.

New York got on the board in the sixth when Robinson Cano began the inning with a double off Dumatrait and scored on Russell Martin's sacrifice fly to center field.

The Yankees extended their lead in the next inning. Jose Mijares quickly retired the first two batters before Granderson recorded his third career inside-the-park home run. Teixeira then went the traditional route, driving a pitch over the wall in left.

New York's David Robertson got Valencia on a fly ball to right to escape a bases-loaded jam in the eighth.

Mariano Rivera earned his 33rd save of the season with a flawless ninth.

Alex Rodriguez Activated From Disabled List

The New York Yankees today activated Alex Rodriguez from the disabled list. Rodriguez will be in the lineup batting cleanup and playing third base this afternoon when the Yankees face the Minnesota Twins.

To make room for Rodriguez the Yankees optioned left-hander Aaron Laffey to AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Laffey was just claimed on waivers by the Yankees within the past couple of days and pitched three innings in relief on Saturday.

Rodriguez underwent surgery July 11 to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Rodriguez underwent an extensive workout Saturday afternoon and apparently responded well enough that the Yankees are comfortable activating him and playing him in the field.

“The one thing we did here is we were able to go first to third full speed, and simulate a situation with [third-base coach] Rob Thomson sending me around third,” Rodriguez said. "And those are things that I’m encouraged about, and over the last three days, I think we’ve covered it.

“I’m ready to play, and I’ve watched enough baseball.”

A.J. Burnett A Problem, Whether Yankees Admit It Or Not

Yankees-Twins Score: A.J. Burnett Implodes In 9-4 Loss

A.J. Burnett imploded on the mound Saturday as the New York Yankees lost to the Minnesota Twins, 9-4, then appeared to explode as he was leaving it.

Burnett (9-10) didn't make it out of the second inning, tagged in defeat for five hits and seven runs with three walks.

"We need him to pitch like he's capable of pitching. That's the bottom line. He's got struggles. His last two starts were nothing but. We've gotta get him back on track," said Yanks manager Joe Girardi of his embattled starter. "I don't lose confidence in players."

Valencia began the explosive frame with a solo homer to give the Twins a 3-0 edge, and after a one-out double from Luke Hughes and a groundout, Revere knocked him in with a single up the middle. Revere swiped second, Plouffe walked and both moved up on a wild pitch then Mauer walked to load the bases.

That was it for Burnett, who departed with what appeared to be some choice words for Girardi.

"Angry? Of course. Nobody's gonna be happy about coming out of the game," said Burnett, who revealed his verbal explosion came as a result of the last pitch to Mauer. "Oh no, what came out was about that strike, I wasn't talking to Joe."

Luis Ayala came on but walked Morneau to force in another run and also served up a two-run single to Kubel for a 7-0 game.

Minnesota's Francisco Liriano (9-9) worked seven innings for the win, scattering three hits and three walks with an unearned run while fanning six.

The Yankees maintained a half- game lead over Boston in the AL East. The Red Sox lost at Kansas City.

Yankees-Twins Score: Martin, Hughes Lead New York To 8-1 Victory

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Russell Martin went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI, and Phil Hughes threw 7 2/3 innings of two-hit ball in the New York Yankees' 8-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

Hughes (4-4) yielded a first-inning home run to Trevor Plouffe and was nearly unhittable thereafter. The right-hander retired 14 straight at one point and shook off three walks to record his fourth straight quality start, during which his earned run average has dipped from 9.47 to 5.75.

"I just tried to stay aggressive. I got a lot of quick outs," Hughes said. "I got away with most of my mistakes."

Mark Teixeira doubled twice and drove in three runs for the Yankees, who have won seven of nine to stay atop the AL East standings. They are a season-high 29 games over .500 at 76-47.

Kevin Slowey (0-1), in technically his first start of the season, was touched for six runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings for the Twins, who dropped the opener of this four-game set on Thursday after taking two of three at Detroit.

Martin went deep to left in the third inning to counter Plouffe's round- tripper, and consecutive doubles by Teixeira and Robinson Cano in the fourth gave the visitors the lead for good.

The Yankees tacked on two in the fifth, though with the way Hughes was pitching they didn't need the insurance.

"[Hughes] was hitting his spots," acknowledged Twins outfielder Ben Revere.

With runners on the corners, Curtis Granderson doubled off the first-base bag to score Brett Gardner and move Derek Jeter to third. Teixeira then lofted a fly ball to left, and Rene Tosoni's throw to home plate was slightly off target, allowing Jeter to slide in safely.

Martin's two-run shot an inning later ended Slowey's night. Jorge Posada singled ahead of the blast, Martin's 15th of the season.

Teixeira capped the scoring with a two-run double down the right-field line in the ninth.

New York Yankees (75-47) At Minnesota Twins (54-69), 8:10 P.M.

(Sports Network) - Phil Hughes makes his case to stay in the New York Yankees rotation this evening when they continue a four-game set with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

Hughes, who could be the odd man out when Freddy Garcia returns on Saturday, has won his last two starts, but is just 3-4 on the year with a 6.55 earned run average. He beat the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday by holding them to a pair of runs and four hits in six innings.

"It's hard enough to pitch a really good game when you have a clear conscience so I knew I couldn't let anything distract me," Hughes said.

He is 3-3 with a 4.28 ERA in seven games since returning from the disabled list in early July.

Hughes has faced the Twins three times (one start) and has yet to record a decision against them, pitching to a 3.68 ERA in those outings.

New York opened this set with a win on Thursday, as Mark Teixeira finished 2- for-3 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and two walks, carrying the Yankees to an 8-4 win.

Nick Swisher added a two-run shot and Andruw Jones hit a mammoth solo blast for New York, which won for the sixth time in eight games to stay atop the AL East standings by a half-game over Boston.

Alex Rodriguez Not Quite Ready To Return To Yankees Lineup

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Yankees-Twins Score: Replay Favors Yanks This Time In 8-4 Victory

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Mark Teixeira went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and two walks, carrying the Yankees past the Twins, 8-4, in the opener of a four-game series.

Nick Swisher added a two-run shot and Andruw Jones hit a mammoth solo blast for New York, which won for the sixth time in eight games to stay atop the AL East standings by a half-game over Boston.

CC Sabathia (17-7) struck out nine in seven innings and survived 10 hits and four runs -- three earned -- to end a two-start skid.

Yankees At Twins: Alex Rodriguez Near Return

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Derek Jeter Washed Up? His Bat Begs To Differ

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