Twins take down Yanks in series opener

Bronx, NY – Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau were in vintage form and Carl Pavano settled down after a rough first inning to lead the Minnesota Twins over the New York Yankees, 7-3, in the opener of a four-game series.

Mauer went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, a steal, a run scored and an RBI while Morneau added a solo homer for Minnesota, which was coming off a three- game sweep at the hands of the Rangers.

Pavano (1-1) got the Twins back on track by shutting the Yankees down after their three-run first inning. The right-hander lasted seven frames and allowed seven hits while striking out six and walking one.

Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson each went 2-for-4 with a home run for New York, which had won five of six coming in. Freddy Garcia (0-1) was tagged for five runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings to take the loss.

The Twins recorded five straight hits in the first inning, with Josh Willingham singling in Mauer then scoring on Ryan Doumit's base hit to right.

Pavano quickly gave up the lead in the bottom half, as Jeter and Granderson both cleared the right-field wall four pitches into Pavano's outing.

Mark Teixeira singled in Alex Rodriguez later in the frame, but the Yankees had just three more hits off the Minnesota starter -- two coming via infield singles.

Minnesota took the lead back in the fifth when Jamey Carroll and Mauer stroked consecutive two-out RBI hits. Morneau, playing first base for the first time this season, made it 5-3 an inning later when he took Garcia into the bullpen beyond the wall in right-center for his second home run of the season.

Two insurance runs in the eighth gave the Twins breathing room. Danny Valencia's double into the right-field gap chased Doumit home from first -- thanks to a high relay throw to the plate -- and Clete Thomas knocked in Valencia with a base hit to right.

Brian Duensing and Matt Capps each hurled a scoreless inning of relief behind Pavano to preserve the win.

Game Notes

Pavano, who spent four injury-riddled seasons with New York (2005-08), earned his first win against his former team in five career starts...Willingham has hit safely in each of the Twins' 10 games this season...The Twins improved to 6-28 in New York under manager Ron Gardenhire...Every player in Minnesota's lineup had at least one hit...This was first time the Yankees opened a game with back-to-back home runs since September 23, 2005 when Jeter and Robinson Cano accomplished the feat...Jeter has 26 career leadoff homers.