The tide has turned at Target Field.
Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira launched a one-out double to left field in the top of the sixth inning, ending a streak of 10 straight retired batters by Twins ace Francisco Liriano.
A wild pitch gave Teixeira third base and then Alex Rodriguez drew a walk. Robinson Cano, who had 109 RBI during the regular season, drove in Teixeira just a few moments later to put the Yankees on the board 3-1.
Liriano rallied for a strikeout of Marcus Thames, but Jorge Posada sailed a single to right field that scored A-Rod and moved the Yankees to a slim one-run deficit. Curtis Granderson hit a towering triple off the center field wall in the next at-bat that lifted the Yanks to a 4-3 lead and knocked Liriano out of the game.
Liriano finished with seven strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs, all in the sixth inning, and walked three. The Yankees lead by a run heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.