MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Kyodo) Hideki Matsui went 1-for-3 with a walk as the New York Yankees swept the Minnesota Twins with a 4-1 win Sunday to advance to their first AL championship series since 2004.
Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada both hit solo homers in the seventh inning off Carl Pavano to put the Yankees ahead 2-1. Posada and Robinson Cano added RBI singles in the ninth at the Metrodome.
Matsui singled to center in the fifth and drew a walk in the ninth. He struck out twice in his other at-bats.
New York wrapped up a three-game sweep in the AL division series to secure a meeting that begins Friday in the ALCS with the Los Angeles Angels, who also advanced in a sweep of the Boston Red Sox.
"A win in the playoffs is something special. We had to battle from behind in all three games but we were able to prevail in close contests. That pitch from Pavano was the only one I could drive and I got a solid swing on it," said Matsui.
In Boston, the Red Sox fell 7-6 to the Angels in a come-from-behind defeat. Los Angeles reached its first ALCS since 2005.
Boston reliever Hideki Okajima got the third out in the top of the ninth inning after the Angels turned a 6-4 deficit into a one-run lead by scoring three runs in the frame.
"I was happy to throw in the playoffs but I am really frustrated with the loss," said Okajima.
