Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
MINNEAPOLIS - The Twins startled the Yankees in last year's playoffs by going to the Bronx and taking the first game of their first-round series, then lost the final three.
Well, here comes Minnesota's second chance.
Ben Broussard hit a two-run homer to lift the Cleveland Indians to a 5-2 victory over the Twins on a strange Sunday afternoon that sent the Central champs to Yankee Stadium for the start of the postseason.
"It's going to be a lot of pressure," said Johan Santana, scheduled to start Game 1 on Tuesday night against Mike Mussina. "That's the way this game is. That's what we want. That's what we're ready for."
Twenty minutes before the originally scheduled game began, Minnesota beat Cleveland 6-5 in 12 innings to finish Saturday's suspended game more than 26 hours after it started. Michael Cuddyer's two-out double scored Jason Bartlett from first base to end it.
Minnesota, which won its third straight division title, could have started the postseason at home against the wild-card Red Sox with a better finish. After clinching, the Twins went 4-8.
"A little disappointing here at the end, but I'm very proud of this baseball team," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Looking forward to the playoffs."
The Indians, who came within a game of the Twins on Aug.14 before fading, finished 80-82, their best since 2001 and a 12-game improvement over last season.
"That's a great mark," Broussard said. "We got to see some explosive stuff happen."
Bob Wickman closed the second game with his 13th save in 14 chances since returning from an elbow injury. Cliff Lee pitched seven sharp innings and tied Jake Westbrook for the team lead with 14 victories by winning his third straight start.
A'S 3, ANGELS 2:Rookie Nick Swisher singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth, and host Oakland defeated playoff-bound Anaheim.
Aaron Sele pitched into the seventh and Jeff DaVanon hit a run-scoring triple for the Angels, who had won seven of eight and clinched the West on Saturday.
Anaheim opens the division series at home Tuesday afternoon against Boston and Curt Schilling. Jarrod Washburn probably will pitch for the Angels.
YANKEES 3, BLUE JAYS 2:Bernie Williams hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth and visiting New York capped its third straight 100-win season. The Yankees finished 101-61, joining the Braves (1997-99), Orioles (1969-71) and Philadelphia Athletics (1929-31) as the only teams with three straight 100-win seasons.
ORIOLES 3, RED SOX 2:Miguel Tejada drove in his 150th run, most in the majors, and host Baltimore closed its best season since 1999. Boston manager Terry Francona substituted liberally to rest his regulars for the postseason.
WHITE SOX 5, ROYALS 0:Jose Contreras took a no-hit bid into the seventh, and visiting Chicago, a preseason favorite to win the Central, ended a disappointing season in second place.
RANGERS 3, MARINERS 0:Ichiro Suzuki got two hits to finish with 262, and Edgar Martinez grounded into a double play in his last at-bat for visiting Seattle.