Twins get last laugh, stun Rivera, Yankees

MINNEAPOLIS -- Start calling the Minnesota Twins the comeback kids.

Justin Morneau hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning off Mariano Rivera to lift the Twins over the Yankees, 6-5, last night for their fifth straight come-from-behind win.

The Twins trailed, 5-4, heading into the ninth with one of the league's best closers on the hill.

But Luis Castillo beat out an infield hit -- his fourth hit of the game -- to start the inning and advanced to third on a single by Joe Mauer, who reached second when Hideki Matsui threw to third.

Rivera (0-1) came back to strike out Rondell White and Torii Hunter, but Morneau followed with a lazy single to right, and Mauer raced around third to beat Gary Sheffield's throw.

Juan Rincon (1-0) pitched one inning of perfect relief for the win.

The Yankees chased Johan Santana from the game in the seventh. Robinson Cano ripped a single up the middle that almost knocked Santana down to start the inning, and one batter later, Johnny Damon doubled.

Derek Jeter followed with his third hit of the game, a two-run single in the seventh off reliever Jesse Crain that tied it at 4, and Alex Rodriguez broke the tie with an RBI single one batter later.