Fri May 30 23:54:56 2008

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Abreu leads Yanks comeback over Twins

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Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Bobby Abreu went 3-for-4 with two triples and scored four times, as the New York Yankees edged the Minnesota Twins, 6-5, in the opener of a four-game set from the Metrodome.

Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera each had three hits and a pair of runs batted in for the Yankees, who have won two in a row and seven of their last nine overall.

Mike Mussina (8-4) got the win after he threw six innings, giving up just four runs -- two earned -- on six hits, while fanning four and walking one. Mariano Rivera earned his 14th save of the year with a scoreless ninth.

Justin Morneau went 2-for-4 with a solo home run for the Twins, who saw their four-game win streak come to a halt. Alexi Casilla was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel and Delmon Young had a hit and an RBI each.

Glen Perkins (2-2) took the loss after he lasted just four innings and gave up five runs on 10 hits with two walks.

The Yanks pulled ahead 5-4 in the fifth. Abreu led-off with a single, and a Rodriguez double brought him home.

Abreu led-off the seventh with a triple and Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. Dennys Reyes was then called in from the bullpen and gave up an RBI infield single to Matsui. The Yankees were sitting on a 6-4 cushion heading into the home seventh.

Kyle Farnsworth took over on the mound for New York in the eighth and surrendered a lead-off homer to Morneau, making it a one-run game.

Rivera was called in for the ninth to close it out and got Mike Lamb to ground out. Brendan Harris, though, became just the second batter this season to work a walk from Rivera. Carlos Gomez went down swinging and pinch-hitter Craig Monroe was caught staring at the third strike to make it official.

The Yankees wasted no time in getting on the board. Abreu worked a one-out walk and stole second base. Two batters later, Matsui singled to left to plate Abreu and extend his hitting-streak to eight games.

The Twins jumped on top 4-1 in the home first. Casilla had a one-out single and Joe Mauer followed with a walk. Morneau then hit a grounder down the first-base line that Shelley Duncan fielded and threw to Derek Jeter at second for an easy double play ball, but the throw pulled Jeter off the bag. Everyone was safe and the bases were loaded before Cuddyer, Kubel and Young clubbed consecutive RBI singles. Lamb then hit a scorcher up the middle that Jeter dove at, caught, and relayed to second to get Young, but Cuddyer crossed home.

New York inched its way back in the third. Abreu tripled on a ball to left and scored when Rodriguez singled to left, and the Yankees cut the lead to 4-2.

Duncan led-off the fourth with a walk and Robinson Cano followed with a single. Jose Molina offered a sac bunt, moving both runners into scoring position. Cabrera then belted a single to center, plating both runners and knotting the contest at four.

Game Notes

Minnesota's bullpen gave up just one run in five innings...The Yankees have committed only seven errors this season...NY's Wilson Betemit pinch-hit for Duncan in the fifth inning.