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NEW YORK (Reuters) – The New York Yankees advanced to the American League Championship Series by beating the Minnesota Twins 6-1 on Saturday to complete a three-game sweep of their best-of-five Division Series.
New York became the first team to advance in Major League Baseball's playoffs behind the strong pitching of Phil Hughes and a 12-hit attack keyed by a two-run homer from designated hitter Marcus Thames and a solo blast by Nick Swisher.
The 24-year-old Hughes, who was 18-8 this season and making his first playoff start, retired the first nine batters he faced and threw seven shutout innings allowing just four hits.
It was the 12th successive defeat in the post-season for the AL Central champion Twins going back to 2004, and the ninth playoff loss in a row to the Yankees, who also swept Minnesota last year on their way to winning the World Series.
The Yankees will meet either the Tampa Bay Rays or Texas Rangers, who lead that series 2-1, in a best-of-seven showdown to determine the American League representative in the World Series.
The Yankees marked the victory with a reserved handshake and hug lineup on the field, but once they got to their clubhouse, champagne spray filled the air as New York took another step toward a possible 28th Fall Classic crown.
New York became the first team to advance in Major League Baseball's playoffs behind the strong pitching of Phil Hughes and a 12-hit attack keyed by a two-run homer from designated hitter Marcus Thames and a solo blast by Nick Swisher.
The 24-year-old Hughes, who was 18-8 this season and making his first playoff start, retired the first nine batters he faced and threw seven shutout innings allowing just four hits.
It was the 12th successive defeat in the post-season for the AL Central champion Twins going back to 2004, and the ninth playoff loss in a row to the Yankees, who also swept Minnesota last year on their way to winning the World Series.
The Yankees will meet either the Tampa Bay Rays or Texas Rangers, who lead that series 2-1, in a best-of-seven showdown to determine the American League representative in the World Series.
The Yankees marked the victory with a reserved handshake and hug lineup on the field, but once they got to their clubhouse, champagne spray filled the air as New York took another step toward a possible 28th Fall Classic crown.
