Everyone can relax. Yanks dispose of Twins, advance
New York makes it easy for David Wells with a six-run fourth, taking three straight after losing Game 1.
By Associated Press
Published October 6, 2003
MINNEAPOLIS - The New York Yankees never panicked, even if some of their fans did.
"It's a series," Derek Jeter said, "not one game."
The Yankees rediscovered their dominant postseason form in a hurry. They hit four doubles in a six-run fourth inning Sunday, breezing behind David Wells into the AL Championship Series with an 8-1 win over Minnesota.
After a sloppy loss in Game 1 Tuesday that brought back memories of last year's first-round flop against Anaheim, New York beat the Twins three straight times to win the division series.
"We fought our way through it," manager Joe Torre said. "We know there are a lot of distractions in New York. In the postseason, they're magnified."
A rested Yankees team will open the ALCS on Wednesday night at home against Oakland or Boston.
"They're the best team in the league," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Somebody has to knock them off."
Wells improved to 9-2 lifetime in the postseason by going 72/3 innings.
New York sent 12 to the plate in the fourth, chasing starter Johan Santana. Bernie Williams and Hideki Matsui each hit a run-scoring double, and Nick Johnson added a two-run double. Alfonso Soriano's bloop two-run single made it 6-0.
"Six-nothing in the playoffs is like 12-nothing in the regular season," Minnesota's Torii Hunter said.
After losing Game 1 at home 3-1, New York outscored Minnesota 15-3.
The big-budget Yankees are under increasing pressure to win it all after consecutive seasons without a World Series title.
They seemed to like their achievement. Their clubhouse celebration was like their series: It got stronger.
Players hugged each other quietly on the Metrodome field as Twins fans politely applauded their team. After a while in the clubhouse, though, as the champagne showers gave way to shaving cream spatterings, they whooped it up.
Part of that was due to the fact that some players, notably Jason Giambi, never had won a postseason series. Part of it was due to something else. "Last year was tough," said Jorge Posada, who was critical of some teammates after the Yankees were knocked out of the division series by the Anaheim Angels in 2002. "This year just tastes a lot better."
The Twins, who beat Oakland in the first round last year, have to settle for two straight AL Central titles after back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 1969-70.
A leg cramp limited Santana's Game 1 outing to four shutout innings. After retiring 10 of his first 11, his success ended with one out in the fourth. A stunned, silenced crowd of 55,875 watched the Yankees bash balls all over the field.
They hit four doubles in the inning, a division series record, and scored six against the Twins' best pitcher.
"Johan's a nasty guy, and they hit him hard," Hunter said.
Wells gave up two-out singles to Doug Mientkiewicz and Hunter in the eighth and was replaced by Gabe White. He gave up eight hits and struck out five without allowing a walk.
"I loved every minute of it," said Wells, who was honored to be on the mound for the clinching game. "I've had a few opportunities to do that in my career. It's something I'll be able to tell my grandchildren."
Now the Yankees will watch two weary potential opponents play in California, knowing the winner has to fly to New York for a game Wednesday.
