Radke Shuts Down Yankees

After getting blown out in the opener of a four-game series against the first-place New York Yankees, the Minnesota Twins weren't optimistic. Two well-pitched games can change that.

Brad Radke allowed two runs in 7 2-3 innings, recording 13 straight outs at one point, and Marty Cordova had three RBIs to lead the Twins to a 5-3 victory Sunday and their first back-to-back wins at Yankee Stadium since July 14-15, 1995.

After getting 22 hits in a 14-2 win Friday against Minnesota, the Yankees could manage only six runs the last two days and need a win Monday night to salvage a split.

Cordova had an RBI groundout in the first inning and a two-run double in the seventh and Terry Steinbach added two RBIs for the Twins.

Hideki Irabu (9-4) allowed five runs four earned and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings and failed to become the fifth Yankee starter with at least 10 wins. He had won eight straight decisions since May 25.

"All the hard hits came off the forkball when he was ahead in the count," catcher Jorge Posada said. "Usually he's able to finish off hitters. Today, he left the forkball up."

Radke (9-11), who allows the fewest walks per nine innings in the American League, stayed in front of the Yankees hitters anwalked only one batter.

"The day certainly belonged to Radke," Twins manager Tom Kelly said. "He pitched a whale of a game against the Yankees. He used all of his pitches and he was very effective."

Four of the first seven Yankees singled off Radke, including an RBI hit by Paul O'Neill in the first inning. Radke quickly settled down, pitching out of a two-on, nobody out jam in the second.

"He dominated us," Derek Jeter said. "He had a great change, worked quickly and didn't give us too many chances to score."

Radke gave up a single in the third to O'Neill, who was caught stealing to end the inning. He didn't allow another baserunner until walking Ricky Ledee with two outs in the seventh and giving up a double to Jorge Posada. Radke struck out Scott Brosius on a 3-2 changeup to end the threat.

"That was huge," Radke said. "There was an open base, but I didn't want to put the tying run on base with the top of the lineup coming up."

Radke allowed consecutive one-out singles in the eighth to Jeter and O'Neill but appeared to get out of the inning when Bernie Williams hit a comebacker.

Radke threw to Hocking for the force at second, but Hocking's relay to first was wild, allowing Jeter to score. It was Hocking's first error in 107 games since Sept. 17, 1998.

"I didn't think I could go the whole year without making an error," he said. "I guess now the pressure is off. I just tried to throw the ball too hard."

After a single by Tino Martinez brought the tying run to the plate, Eddie Guardado got Chili Davis to fly out.

Mike Trombley pitched the ninth for his 21st save in 28 chances. He gave up Jeter's RBI single.

The Twins, in New York for Beanie Baby Day once again, fared much better than last year, when David Wells pitched a perfect game against them.

Minnesota avoided that fate in the first inning. Chad Allen walked with one out, stole second, went to third on Todd Walker's infiel single and scored on Cordova's groundout.

Terry Steinbach added an RBI single in the third and a run-scoring double in the sixth.

Notes