Pettitte, Yanks Shutout Twins

The listless New York Yankees needed a spark and Derek Jeter delivered.

Jeter hit a sixth-inning homer, Tino Martinez added a solo shot two outs later and four pitchers combined for the shutout as New York beat the Minnesota Twins 2-0 Wednesday for only its second victory in six games.

Jeter drove a 2-2 pitch from Joe Mays (0-3) into the right-field seats for his third homer of the season.

It was New York's first extra-base hit of the three-game series, a span of 23 innings.

"It was a changeup, a low changeup," said Mays, who shut down the Yankees on two hits over the first five innings, "and I was really impressed by that home run. He really had a good swing at it."

Martinez's homer, also his third, went into the right-field bleachers.

Yankees manager Joe Torre said he was pleased with Jeter's hitting approach. "When he's hitting the other way is when he's hitting good," Torre said.

Jeff Nelson (4-0), the second Yankees pitcher, pitched 1 2-3 innings and earned the win in relief of Andy Pettitte, who had been on the disabled list since April 13 with a mild back strain.
Pettitte went five innings in his second start of the season. Nelson took over in the sixth, Mike Stanton followed by retiring all four Twins he faced, and Mariano Rivera earned his seventh save with a one-hit ninth.

"Pitching allowed us to (win)," Torre said. "We were able to play our game today, keep the game close and come out of that bullpen and shut people down."

Pettitte, activated from the DL before the game, allowed three hits, walked one and struck out four.

He retired the first eight Twins before Jason Maxwell singled with two out in the third and Cristian Guzman reached safely on Scott Brosius's fielding error at third. But Pettitte got Denny Hocking to hit into an inning-ending force out.

Minnesota threatened again in the fifth when Pettitte walked Matt LeCroy leading off, and Corey Koskie followed with a single. But Torii Hunter hit into a double play and Maxwell struck out.

Mays gave up 5 hits in 6 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out three. He held the Yankees hitless into the fourth, when Martinez and Jorge Posada singled with two outs. But Mays got out of the jam by striking out Shane Spencer.

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