MLB: New York Yankees 7, Minnesota 6

NEW YORK, April 19 (UPI) -- Three home runs by Curtis Granderson in the first four innings Thursday powered the New York Yankees to a 7-6 decision over Minnesota.

The Yankees earned a split of the four-game series and then headed to Boston for a weekend celebration of Fenway Park's 100th birthday.

Granderson hit a solo shot in the first inning and Mark Teixeira added a two-run blast later in the frame to cut New York's early four-run deficit to one.

After Derek Jeter tied it with an RBI single in the second, Granderson smashed a two-run homer to give the Yankees the lead for good. He added a solo shot in the fourth.

Minnesota climbed within a run in the sixth on a two-run homer by Ryan Doumit, who knocked in four runs, but the Twins then wasted scoring chances down the stretch.

The Twins put runners on first and second with one out in the seventh before Rafael Soriano struck out both Justin Morneau and Doumit. Danny Valencia led off the Minnesota eighth with a ground-rule double, but the next three batters could not get the ball out of the infield against David Robertson.

Mariano Rivera turned in a 1-2-3 performance in the ninth for his third save in support of starter Phil Hughes.

Hughes (1-2) got the win despite giving up six runs on six hits over 5 1/3. Just two of the runs were earned.

Anthony Swarzak (0-3) could not hold the early lead and took the loss while allowing six runs on eight hits in 2 2/3.