MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mark Teixeira hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the seventh inning to rally the New York Yankees over the Minnesota Twins 6-4 Wednesday night in Game 1 of the AL division series.

Yankees ace CC Sabathia labored, but reliever David Robertson fanned Jim Thome in a key spot and Mariano Rivera got the final four outs to close another win for the defending World Series champions. The Yankees rallied from a 3-0 deficit against Francisco Liriano and improved to 10-2 against the Twins in the postseason since 2003.

The Twins played their first outdoor postseason game in Minnesota since 1970. They were hoping a move from the shabby Metrodome outdoors to gorgeous Target Field would turn their fortunes around, but it was more of the same against the Yankees.

Jorge Posada had two hits and RBI and Curtis Granderson added a two-run triple for New York, which has never won a postseason series as a wild card.

Rivera recorded his 40th career postseason saves in 45 chances, but had to work a little harder than he planned. Replays showed Yankees right fielder Greg Golson — inserted that inning for defensive purposes — caught Delmon Young’s sinking liner for what should’ve been the last out.

But umpire Chris Guccione ruled that he trapped it and the call stood after the umpires huddled. Manager Joe Girardi came out to argue, but to no avail. With the tying run at the plate, Thome flied out to Alex Rodriguez to end the game.

Rangers 5, Rays 1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Cliff Lee pitched seven impressive innings and Nelson Cruz and Bengie Molina homered off David Price, leading the Texas Rangers to a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in the opening game of the AL playoffs.

Lee matched a postseason best with 10 strikeouts Wednesday while allowing five hits — one after the second inning. During one dominating stretch, he retired 16 of 17 batters before giving up Ben Zobrist’s homer in the seventh.

Lee improved to 5-0 in six career postseason starts. He went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five starts for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009, including 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA against the New York Yankees in the World Series.

The Rangers ace lost to the Rays three times during the regular season, however the AL East champions were no match for the left-hander this time. The Rangers stopped a nine-game postseason losing streak that began in 1996.