Yankees 10, Twins 4
Robinson Cano homered twice and rookie Zoilo Almonte added a pair of RBI singles among his three hits as visiting New York snapped a five-game losing skid.
Andy Pettitte fanned Justin Morneau in the fifth inning to move past Whitey Ford and become the Yankees' all-time career strikeouts leader (1,958). The veteran left-hander was in line for his fourth straight loss after Chris Parmelee led off the sixth with his eighth home run to give Minnesota a 4-3 lead.
Cano saved Pettitte from another unsuccessful outing after forging a tie in the eighth by scoring on a throwing error from reliever Jared Burton (1-6). Cano had previously recorded his third multi-homer game of the season with a solo shot in the first and a two-run blast in the third.
Almonte, who gave New York a 5-4 lead with an RBI single, provided insurance with aggressive baserunning on Chris Stewart's groundout later in the frame and an RBI single in the ninth. Stewart drew a bases-loaded walk and Travis Hafner capped the scoring with the help of a passed ball as Yankees manager Joe Girardi claimed his 600th career win.
The offensive outburst accounted for the most runs scored by the Yankees since they plated 11 versus Kansas City on May 10. It also made a winner out of Joba Chamberlain (1-0), who tossed one scoreless inning of relief.
GAME NOTEBOOK: New York 3B Alex Rodriguez was cleared by the team to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Class-A Charleston on Tuesday. Rodriguez, who is recovering from left hip surgery, is expected to play a minimum of three innings in the field. ... C Ryan Doumit had a two-run single and LF Oswaldo Arcia added an RBI infield single in the first inning for the Twins, who fell for the seventh time in 10 games. ... Minnesota DH Josh Willingham was scratched from the starting lineup after experiencing increased discomfort in his knee. Willingham is expected to have an MRI on Tuesday.