(Best E Casino) - The New York Yankees take aim at their ninth straight home win this evening when they play the second of three games against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees offense exploded in the opener of this set on Monday, as Alex Rodriguez homered and drove in three runs, while Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano added solo shots of their own in a 12-4 rout.

New York, which moved a season-high nine games over .500, pounded out 16 hits in its fourth straight overall win. It hasn't won nine straight at home since May of 2005

Sidney Ponson (6-1) tossed 5 2/3 innings and gave up just three runs on nine hits to get the win. Yankees' starters have now surrendered a stingy three earned runs or less in 10 of their last 11 games.

However, all the news was not great on Monday for the Yankees, as catcher Jorge Posada was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season with a shoulder injury and could be lost for the season if he decides on surgery.

Denard Span went 3-for-4 and missed the cycle by a home run for Minnesota, which has dropped two straight. Alexi Casilla had two RBI while Carlos Gomez and Jason Kubel both drove in one run.

Nick Blackburn (7-6) was roughed up for six runs -- three earned -- on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings to take the loss.

Heading to the hill for the Yankees tonight will be righty Darrell Rasner, who has just two wins in his last nine starts. Rasner, though, got the win on July 12 against Toronto, as he allowed four runs - three earned - and seven hits in five innings to run his record to 5-7 to go along with a 4.97 ERA.

Rasner lost to the Twins back on June 1 and is 1-1 lifetime against them with a 2.97 ERA in two starts.

Minnesota will counter with righty Kevin Slowey, who is unbeaten in his last six starts, but is coming off a miserable effort in his last start. Slowey received a no-decision against the Detroit Tigers on July 10, despite giving up six runs and nine hits in just 3 2/3 frames.

Slowey, who is 6-6 on the season with a 4.26 ERA, has given up 11 runs and 14 hits in 9 2/3 innings of his last two starts.

In his only other start against the Yankees, they pounded Slowey for five runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 frames.

The Yankees have won three of their five matchups with the Twins this year, but hold an 8-4 advantage in the series since the start of last season.

Minnesota has dropped 17 of its last 20 trips to the Bronx.