Yankees 8, Twins 2
CC Sabathia worked eight strong innings and Curtis Granderson highlighted a six-run third with a two-run triple as visiting New York took the rubber game from Minnesota.
Robinson Cano doubled in a pair and Chris Dickerson hit a two-run homer for the Yankees, who maintained their 1 1/2-game lead over the Baltimore atop the American League East. The Orioles trounced the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 12-2.
Sabathia (14-6) struck out 10 and walked one while allowing two runs and six hits to snap a five-start winless streak. The burly left-hander is scheduled to make one more start in the regular season on Monday and would be in line to start Game One of the Division Series on regular rest if New York takes the AL East crown.
Twins starter Samuel Deduno left after 1 2/3 innings with eye irritation and the Yankees took advantage of the bullpen. Brian Duensing (4-11) retired the first batter in the third but then loaded the bases on two singles and a walk for Cano, who put the Yankees on top with his two-run double. Nick Swisher followed with an RBI single and Granderson tripled in two before scoring on a wild pitch to cap the big inning.
Anthony Swarzak came on for Minnesota and kept New York off the board until the sixth, when Dickerson sent his second homer off the facing of the second deck in right-center.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez sat out after fouling a ball off his foot on Tuesday. … Twins C Joe Mauer went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts to drop his batting average to .323. He is battling Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera (.329) for the batting title. … New York SS Derek Jeter went 0-for-4 with a walk to end his 19-game hitting streak.