By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Twins manager Ron Gardenhire didn’t mince words when talking about tonight’s Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Yankees.

“This is a huge game,” Gardenhire said. “This is almost a do-or-die type thing. You don’t want to go into New York 0-2. I try not to put pressure on guys but this is one that we’ve got to get. We need to get this game. It’s very important.”

When the Twins set up their rotation, one of the reasons for putting Carl Pavano as the starter in Game 2 was to give the team a stabilizing force in case they fell behind 0-1. So now the task is on Pavano to be the leader that he’s been all season.

It’s certainly not an easy thing to come back from a loss in Game 1 of a best-of-five division series. The last team to do it was the Tigers in 2006 when they lost Game 1 in New York to the Yankees and then won three straight against the club en route to winning the World Series.

Now the Twins have to see if they can put together a similar type run.

Yankees (1-0)

Derek Jeter, SS

Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson
Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Jorge Posada, C
Lance Berkman, DH
Brett Gardner, LF

Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte

(11-3, 3.28 ERA this season)

Twins

(0-1)

Denard Span, CF

Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Delmon Young, LF
Jim Thome, DH
Michael
Cuddyer, 1B
Jason
Kubel, RF
Danny Valencia, 3B
J.J. Hardy, SS

Pitching: RHP Carl Pavano

(17-11, 3.75 ERA this season)

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