Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Josh Willingham came home with the winning run on an 11th-inning throwing error by Francisco Cervelli, giving the Minnesota Twins a 2-1 decision over the New York Yankees at Target Field.
Willingham scored both Minnesota runs on the afternoon, previously belting a solo homer off New York starter David Phelps in the seventh inning that tied the game at 1-1. The blast, along with a combined five scoreless frames from five Twins' relievers, helped Minnesota to only its third win in 12 games.
The Twins also halted a seven-game home losing streak to the Yankees, which included setbacks in the first two tests of this four-game set.
Brian Duensing (2-2), the last of those five bullpen arms, earned the win with a scoreless top of the 11th. Starter Yohan Pino also turned in a strong effort, yielding just a run on three hits over six innings of work.
Willingham's homer was the only blemish surrendered by Phelps, who limited the Twins to a run on three hits over seven sharp innings. Cervelli finished 2- for-4 with an RBI single in the loss, New York's sixth in its last eight.