Yankees fans are watching postseason baseball in a new stadium, but they can still count on three things: death, taxes and Derek Jeter.
Jeter hit a two-run home run, CC Sabathia pitched six strong innings and Alex Rodriguez notched a pair of rare postseason RBIs as the Yankees rallied to beat the Minnesota Twins 7-2 in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.
Jeter planted a slider from Twins rookie Brian Duensing into the left field seats in the third inning to erase a two-run deficit to the delight of 49,464 screaming fans at the new Yankee Stadium.
"It was just like the old place," Jeter told the Daily News.
It was Jeter's 18th career postseason home run, tying him with Reggie Jackson and Mickey Mantle for third on the career all-time list.
While Yankees fans are accustomed to Jeter's postseason heroics, getting production from Rodriguez in the playoffs is something they could get used to.
A-Rod knocked in Jeter with a run-scoring single in the fifth innning to end an 0-for-29 RBI drought with with runners in scoring position dating back to Game 4 of the 2004 American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox.
"It definitely felt good," Rodriguez told the Associated Press. "There's no questions the numbers aren't good, but you've got to come out and play."
Hideki Matsui drove A-Rod home with a two-run home run to right field during the five-run fifth inning. Rodriguez added another run-scoring single in the seventh inning.
Sabathia gave up two runs in the third inning before shutting down the Twins the rest of the way. The lefty struck out eight and didn't walk a batter in 6 2/3 innings.
A.J. Burnett will take the mound for the Yankees against Twins starter Scott Baker in Game 2 on Friday.
