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Yankees use six pitchers to finish sweep of Twins

BY ERIK BOLAND | erik.boland@newsday.com

11:30 PM EDT, July 9, 2009

Twins catcher Mike Redmond tags out the Yankees' Brett Gardner at home in the second inning. The Yanks scored three times in the inning and went on to win 6-4. (AP Photo / July 9, 2009)

MINNEAPOLIS - With a starter on a pitch count of 65, Joe Girardi was asked before yesterday's game about who was and wasn't available in his bullpen.

"I think we have everyone," Girardi said.

That won't be the case when the Yankees start a three-game series tonight in Anaheim.

Alfredo Aceves, making his first start since September, lasted 31/3 uneven innings, but the Yankees got just enough offense and five relievers threw 52/3 scoreless innings in a 6-4 victory over the Twins at the Metrodome. The Yankees extended their road winning streak to eight.

Although pleased with the win, which completed a seven-game season sweep of the Twins, Girardi said the need to use so much of his bullpen might necessitate a personnel move as the Yankees (51-34) head to California for their last series before the All-Star break.

"It's something we're going to have to talk about," Girardi said. "We'll probably have some guys who are tomorrow. We'll talk to [general manager Brian Cashman]. I'll have to think about if I feel like we have enough for tomorrow."

Apparently they decided they didn't have enough because last night they recalled righthanded reliever Mark Melancon from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, according to the Scranton Times-Tribune. The Yankees will make a roster move today to make room for Melancon.

One of the unavailable pitchers tonight, Girardi said, will be Aceves. Girardi said Aceves, who allowed four runs (three earned) and four hits, likely won't pitch until after the break.

Aceves said he felt strong after his 65th pitch and that he hoped to start the next time Chien-Ming Wang's spot comes up in the rotation, which is July 21. Wang is not expected back by then, but Girardi hinted that start could go elsewhere, and not because Aceves' day was deemed a disaster. He has been so successful in long relief that Girardi saw what he was missing when he had to go to the bullpen early.

"That's what we have to kind of weigh," Girardi said.

The Yankees begin the Angels series on a tear, having won 13 of their last 15 games.

Yesterday's was perhaps the oddest of the stretch. Jonathan Albaladejo (4-1), recalled Sunday when Wang was put on the disabled list, earned the victory by helping settle down what had been a rocky start for the bullpen. Dave Robertson relieved Aceves with one out and the bases loaded in the fourth and walked in two runs, with both charged to Aceves.

"I did a terrible job," said Robertson, who had three walks.

But he still left with a 5-4 lead. The Yankees added their final run in the fifth on Mark Teixeira's 21st home run, which ended his streak of 95 at-bats without a homer.

Albaladejo came in with one out in the fifth and pitched 12/3 scoreless innings. Phil Coke threw two-thirds of an inning and Phil Hughes added another standout performance with 11/3 scoreless innings, leading the way to Mariano Rivera. He allowed a two-out single in the ninth but got Joe Mauer, who ended the series hitting .389, to ground out to first to get his 23rd save.