Twins: Briefly better in Bronx

While the Yankees seem ready to rip at the seams, Roger Clemens saved them by winning his 350th career game.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: July 3, 2007 - 4:03 PM

NEW YORK - The struggling Yankees fear Boston is running away from them in the AL East, and signed a 44-year-old former Red Sox righthander to a $28 million deal to try to catch them.

Leave it to the Twins to provide the struggling Yankees with some hope. The Twins' feeble offense allowed New York to win 5-1 on Monday night. The Yankees had lost nine of 12 coming into the game, but the Twins have dropped 14 of their past 16 at Yankee Stadium.

And that righthander? Roger Clemens shut them down for eight innings to earn his 350th career victory, the latest milestone reached during his Hall of Fame career.

"You definitely couldn't tell they were scuffling," said Twins righthander Boof Bonser (5-5) of the Yankees. "It must be nice if you score five runs and put 12 hits on the board and say you're scuffling."

After winning the first two games of this 11-game road trip -- and knocking Detroit out of first place in the AL Central -- the Twins have lost two in a row.

"Story of our season," Twins first baseman Justin Morneau said. "We'll win four then give four right back. We've got to stop it right here and get back on the winning side."

On Sunday, the Twins were shut out by Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman during a painful 1-0 loss to the Tigers. On Monday, the Twins were shut down by Clemens.

"The Rocket" might be at the Roman candle stage of his career, but most of the announced crowd of 53,036 serenaded him with cheers.

Clemens held the Twins to one run over eight innings on two hits, one walk and four strikeouts. It was his 24th victory against the Twins, the most of any pitcher since the franchise moved from Washington in 1961.

"If I had to face those guys every day," Twins outfielder Torii Hunter said, "I'd hit .100."

Since the sixth inning of Saturday's 8-5 victory over Detroit, the Twins are batting .153 with three walks and one run scored over 21 innings. They've hit .188 against Bonderman and Clemens.

"We've had a couple tough days against some tough pitchers, quality pitchers," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Our pitchers are giving us a chance."

Bonser gave up a run in the first inning and walked a tightrope at times, but the score remained tied 1-1 through five innings.

But Boof went poof in the sixth. A hanging slider to Bobby Abreu landed into the third deck in right for a 2-1 Yankees lead. Andy Phillips doubled, Robinson Cano singled, and Bonser was lifted for righthander Juan Rincon. He walked two batters, forcing in a run to make it 3-1. Matt Guerrier replaced Rincon, but third baseman Jeff Cirillo misplayed Derek Jeter's grounder, which was ruled a single, and two runs scored to make it 5-1.

That was plenty of support for Clemens, who let Mariano Rivera finish up after retiring the Twins in order in the eighth inning.

After winning four consecutive games, Bonser has lost his past four decisions. But this one can't be totally pinned on him.

"If we would have gotten him runs, it would have been a different story," Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer said. "He pitched well enough to win."

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com

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