MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Hideki Matsui hit a mammoth two-run homer and Roger Clemens pitched seven superb innings Saturday as the New York Yankees topped Minnesota, 3-1.
The Yankees took the lead in the American League Division Series at two games to one.
Matsui, a favorite for AL Rookie of the Year honors, launched a high fastball from Kyle Lohse (0-1) into the upper deck in right field to open the scoring. Bernie Williams had gotten on in front of him with a double.
The home run silenced the crowd of 55,915 at the Metrodome, where the Twins had won 13 of 16 postseason games. Three of their four losses have come in the last two years.
In what could be his final major league appearance, Clemens, a future Hall of Famer, allowed just one run and five hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
Mariano Rivera fired two perfect innings for his second straight two-inning save, adding to a major league record with his 27th in the postseason.
