By Jim Scott
DNAinfo Associate Editor
MANHATTAN — The New York Yankees closed down the Metrodome for good, earning them a date with their playoff nemesis — the Anaheim Angels.
Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada homered to back Andy Pettitte as the Yankees swept the Minnesota Twins out of the playoffs with a 4-1 victory in Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Sunday.
Rodriguez homered off former Yankee pitcher Carl Pavano to tie the game up at one run apiece in the seventh inning. Posada put the Yanks up for good two batters later with a homer to deep left off Posada.
A-Rod batted .455 (5 for 11) with two homers and six RBIs in three games to help Yankees fans forget some of his past post-season failures in pinstripes.
The Yankees third baseman entered this postseason in a 0-for-27 slide with runners on base dating to Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS.
“I knew that I couldn’t change all the 0-for-4s, 0-for-5s and all the guys I left on base,” Rodriguez told the Associated Press. “I’m content right now, both on and off the field.”
Pettitte gave up one run and struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings to earn his 15th career postseason win, tying him with John Smoltz for the most career postseason victories.
It marked the first time the Yankees swept a postseason series since taking four straight from the Atlanta Braves in the 1999 World Series.
Minnesota played it's final game in the Metrodome and will move into a new stadium next season. The Twins left 26 runners on base over the first two games, including 17 in the 11-inning defeat in Game 2.
The series victory earned the Yankees a date with the Angels in the American League Championship Series. Anaheim knocked New York out of the playoffs in 2002 and 2005 and went 5-4 against the Yankees during the regular season.
The Angels rallied for three runs in the ninth inning against Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon to beat the Red Sox 7-6 at Fenway Park on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep in their ALDS series.
