Jones homers in first Yankee at-bat

Andruw Jones took a big hack, hitting nothing but air as Brian Duensing's 90-mph sinker whizzed by him.

Minutes later, though, the 33-year-old slugger-turned-role player made the Minnesota Twins starter pay, crushing a solo home run in his first plate appearance as a Yankee.

The full-count line drive sailed over the leftfield wall in the second inning, giving the Yankees a 4-0 lead that they eventually relinquished last night at the Stadium.

Jones, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, became the 13th Yankee since the expansion era to hit a home run in his first plate appearance with the team. Curtis Granderson last accomplished that feat in 2010 against the Red Sox.

Jones acknowledged his struggles in recent years, referencing his anemic batting averages with Atlanta (.222) in 2007, the Dodgers (.158) in 2008, the Rangers (.214) in 2009 and the White Sox (.230) last year. But in the same breath, he insisted his bat's still got some pop.

"The main thing is staying consistent. Not going out there and trying to do too much," said Jones, who replaced Brett Gardner in leftfield. "Last year, I started really hot and went a week without playing [and] just started not feeling comfortable and the average started dropping. But I think the power's still there.

"I think the main thing that everybody on this team looks for is just get on base and drive in runs when you need to, especially when you're hitting down in the bottom of the lineup."

Much has changed since Jones, then just 19, launched home runs over the leftfield wall in his first two at-bats ever in the old Yankee Stadium during Game 1 of the 1996 World Series. Now he's the fourth outfielder, used solely for the purpose of battling lefty pitchers and providing solid defense. But Jones is determined to make the most of his opportunities, however few or far between they might be.

The expectations on him are the same as they were for former Yankee Marcus Thames: hit lefties when called upon.

Jones, who came into the game 1-for-2 against Duensing in his career, did that last night.

"He's a pretty tough little lefty," Jones said before the game. "He likes to keep you off-balance on both sides of the plate so you just have to have a good approach and go out there and when he makes a mistake, take advantage of him."