The Major League Baseball post-season got under way Tuesday with the Minnesota Twins defeating the Oakland Athletics 7-5 in California, to take the first game of the best-of-five American League division series.
AJ Pierzynski had four hits, and Corey Koskie homered and drove in three runs, as the Twins overcame three early fielding errors and a 5-1 Oakland lead. It was Minnesota's first postseason appearance since winning the World Series in 1991. Oakland hosts Game two Wednesday.
In the other American League playoff series, the New York Yankees battled back to defeat the Anaheim Angels 8-5 at home. The Angels led 5-4 heading into the bottom of the eight inning when the Yankees rallied for four runs, three of them off a Bernie Williams home run. The two teams meet for game two Wednesday night in New York.
In the National League playoffs, the St. Louis Cardinals crushed the defending World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks 12-2 in Phoenix. Arizona starter Randy Johnson was shelled for 10 hits in six innings. Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen each had two-run homers for the Cardinals. Game two of the series is Thursday in Phoenix.