Yankees putting nails on Twins coufin

YANKEES 5

TWINS 2

This baby is all but over.

Once again the sight of the interlocking NY is too much to bare for the Minnesota Twins, as the Yankees grabbed their second striaght game from the Twins in less than 24 hours to take a 2-0 series lead in the ALDS.

The Yankees are getting contributions from everyone. Last night, Mark Teixiera's two run blast put the Bombers in front for good, 6-4; tonight it was Lance Berkman.

With the game tied at one in the fifth, Berkman cracked a solo homerun to center to give New York a 2-1 lead. Berkman has come under a lot of scrutiny for his hitting since coming over from the Houston Astros, July 31, but tonight he was 2-of-4 with the homer and two RBI. He is offically a Yankee.

Things weren't easy. Orlando Hudson, that's right the same Orlando Hudson who wanted to come to the Mets, homered in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at two.

Andy Pettitte had his best start since coming off the DL late last month, going seven innings giving up five hits and two runs, while striking out four. Pettitte is 12-3 on the season.

In the seventh, Berkman broke things open with a RBI double to left to drive in Jorge Posada to make it 3-2. Then, Derek Jeter knocked in Berkman with a single to right-center.

Mariano Rivera came into close the door in typical Rivera fashion in the ninth to give the Yankees the victory.

The series moves to the Bronx for game three where the Yankees look to shut down the Twins, Saturday night. Phil Hughes gets the start.

WATCH OUT FOR TEXAS: Don't look now, but the Texas Rangers hold a 2-0 series edge on the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rangers return to Texas on Saturday looking for the sweep. The Rangers have never won a playoff series in their 38 years of existence.