New York and Minnesota didn’t expect to finish their Tuesday game more than 22 hours after the first pitch, but in a game that took two days to complete, Derek Jeter’s sixth inning home run was the only offense in a 1-0 Yankees win at Target Field.
The Yankees recorded their first 1-0 win since Sept. 20, 2008. The Twins lost for the fifth time in their last seven games.
Just after Orlando Hudson struck out to end the bottom of the fifth inning, the game was suspended Tuesday night due to a thunderstorm. The Yankees and Twins resumed the game at 5:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Facing reliever Brian Duensing (2-1), Jeter was the second hitter after the game resumed in the top of the sixth, and he connected on his fifth home run of the season, over the left center field wall.
Jeter was also a key figure in the bottom of the sixth.
Minnesota had runners at second and third with two outs after Justin Morneau walked and Jason Kubel doubled. Delmon Young then hit a ball that Jeter backhanded, and used his jump throw to first to retire Young and end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, pinch hitter Jim Thome walked with one out. However, Denard Span grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game as Mariano Rivera recorded his ninth save.
Minnesota put runners at first and second in each of the first two innings but failed to score off Yankees starter A.J. Burnett (5-2). The Twins also stranded a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth before the game was suspended.
Both starting pitchers tossed five scoreless innings before the game was suspended on Tuesday. Burnett limited the Twins to only three hits while striking out five and walking two.
Scott Baker was equally as effective, holding the Yankees to three hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
New York and Minnesota will play the second game of their three game series later tonight.
Andy Pettitte (5-1, 2.68) will start for the Yankees, while the Twins will counter with Francisco Liriano (4-3, 3.25). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.
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