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Updated: 10/08/2009 7:36 AM KSTP.com | Print | 
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NEW YORK (AP) – Derek Jeter turned on a slider and sent it soaring toward the seats. The crowd rose and screamed.

Just as they did so on so many October nights at the famed ballpark across the street, the New York Yankees came from behind and won the first postseason game at their new $1.5 billion palace.

“This is the fun time of year,” Jeter said after Wednesday night’s 7-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

In the opener of their AL playoff series, Jeter and the Yankees returned to the postseason after a one-year absence, CC Sabathia was the type of ace New York envisioned when it gave him a $161 million contract last winter and even Alex Rodriguez broke out of his playoff rut with a pair of run-scoring singles.

After winning a record 26 World Series titles while playing at old Yankee Stadium, New York wasn’t quite sure what a playoff game would feel like in its fancy new home. Then Jeter got the fans going with his 18th postseason home run, which tied Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson for third on the career list behind Manny Ramirez (28) and Bernie Williams (22).

“It felt just like the old place,” Jeter said. “We couldn’t have drawn it up any better for us.”

Jeter’s two-run homer in the third off loser Brian Duensing drew New York even, and Nick Swisher pulled a go-ahead double down the left-field line in the fourth that scored Robinson Cano from first as left fielder Delmon Young and shortstop Orlando Cabrera made a pair of poor throws.

Rodriguez had gone 0 for 29 in the postseason with runners dating to Game 4 of the 2004 AL championship series, stranding 40 on base, before chasing Duensing with an RBI single that made it 4-2 in the fifth.

From there the Yankees breezed to their first postseason win in exactly two years, giving manager Joe Girardi a victory in his first postseason game since succeeding Joe Torre two years ago.

On a night with sustained winds blowing to right-center at 20 mph, with gusts up to 43 mph, Hideki Matsui followed with a two-run homer into Monument Park on left-hander Francisco Lirano’s fourth pitch. The Yankees celebrated like kids, just as the Twins did when they beat Detroit in a 12-inning AL Central tiebreaker at the Metrodome on Tuesday night.

“Crazy. Nuts,” Swisher said. “Everyone knows I’m a little hyper. Probably the hardest thing was keeping myself under control.”

Rodriguez added another run-scoring single in the seventh against Jon Rauch following an error by first baseman Michael Cuddyer, with A-Rod’s drive hitting halfway up the right-field wall. New York scored five runs with two outs.

“It definitely felt good,” Rodriguez said. “There’s no questions the numbers aren’t good, but you’ve got to come out and play.”

Wearing long sleeves on the blustery night, Sabathia got past a 22-pitch first and found a sharp cutter in his Yankees postseason debut.

“This is what you come here for,” said Sabathia, who allowed one earned run and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings, striking out eight and walking none.” It was electric tonight.”

Sabathia left with two on after 113 pitches. He tipped his cap to a ballpark record crowd of 49,464 that included actress Kate Hudson and rapper Jay-Z.

Minnesota was more interested in ZZZZs.

The Twins didn’t arrive at their hotel until nearly 4 a.m. and appeared to lack the energy that propelled them during a 17-4 finish. They struck out 12 times.

“It seemed like about 12, 16 hours ago, we were popping champagne,” Brendan Harris said.

After a day off – the Twins aren’t even working out – the series resumes Friday night, when A.J. Burnett pitches for the Yankees against Nick Blackburn. New York will be trying to get off to its first 2-0 postseason start since 1999 against Texas.

“We all need to go home, get a good night’s rest,” said Twins pitcher Carl Pavano, who will start Game 3. “We’re going to be a little fresher, I’m sure, on Friday.”

Duensing, a rookie left-hander, had never even been to New York before.

“I wish that we could go hire a right-hander to come in and eat them all up,” Gardenhire said. “But we have a few left-handers that have to pitch. That’s just the way it is.”

Duensing gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings.

“The crowd was into it. An unbelievable atmosphere,” Duensing said. “Just wished it would have turned out a little better.”

NOTES: Matsui has seven postseason homers. He hit 13 off left-handers during the regular season, tied for big league lead among left-handed batters. … Phil Hughes followed Sabathia and struck out Cabrera in a 10-pitch at-bat. Mariano Rivera, New York’s fourth reliever, struck out two in the ninth.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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