Brad Marchand for possible supplementary discipline

MINNEAPOLIS -- CC Sabathia had to work hard for this milestone, just like most of his victories in this challenging season for the New York Yankees. To the Minnesota Twins, well, he was the same overpowering, nearly unbeatable pitcher. Sabathia won his 200th career game to stretch his winning streak over Minnesota to nearly six years, and Robinson Cano hit a tying two-run double to spark the Yankees to a 3-2 victory over the Twins on Wednesday night. The significance of Sabathias accomplishment at age 32 was lost, at least publicly, on the burly left-hander. "Its hard not to be aware of it, but I dont know if it means anything right now," Sabathia said. "Ill be ready in five days to go again and just try to get No. 201." Cano fueled the three-run sixth against Twins starter PJ Walters (2-5), who was pitching for his job. Trevor Plouffe homered against Sabathia (9-6), but he finished seven innings with seven hits and three walks while striking out nine. The Yankees are missing almost all of their stars, and Sabathias fastball isnt in the upper 90s anymore. The big man can still throw, though. "I think its still a work in progress. I think youre always trying to get better and trying to reinvent yourself," Sabathia said. "Ive still got some work to do, but hopefully I can just keep getting better." Sabathia is 11-0 with a 2.01 ERA in his last 12 starts against the Twins. He threw a season-high 121 pitches. "He did really grind this one out," manager Joe Girardi said. "Its just his will. He never gets down on himself. He always believes that he can make the pitch, and eventually he does it." The Twins were on their way to beating Sabathia for the first time since July 29, 2007, the year he won the AL Cy Young award. Brian Dozier drew a leadoff walk in the third and scored on Joe Mauers double, his first extra-base hit in nine games. Shortstop Luis Cruz, signed before the game as a replacement for Jayson Nix -- the latest Yankee to hit the disabled list -- was charged with an error for throwing over first baseman Lyle Overbays head to give the Twins runners at the corners with no outs. But Sabathia bore down after that, striking out Justin Morneau, retiring Plouffe on a fly out and striking out Oswaldo Arcia to finish the inning. With two outs in the fifth, Plouffes drive escaped the outstretched glove of centre fielder Brett Gardner and bounced high off the top of the wall onto the black batter-eye backing behind it for a 2-0 lead. That was all the Twins could get, though. "With a guy like CC you have to score those runs, especially against the Yankees," Plouffe said. Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless ninth to notch his 28th save in 29 tries in his farewell season. Cano has had at least two hits in each of the first six games of this road trip, batting 14 for 24 with 10 RBIs and four home runs. His streak of going deep ended at three straight games, but the four-time All-Star second baseman didnt stop lifting this lagging, injury-ravaged lineup once again. Aaron Hicks made a fully extended catch of Canos line drive to centre field in the eighth inning, the only time the Twins got him out on the night. After giving the Twins solid performances in his first four starts, Walters fell out of whack, lasting a total of nine innings over his previous three turns while allowing 16 hits, 16 runs and nine walks. The right-hander breezed twice through the batting order, but the leadoff walk in the sixth to Gardner was foreboding. Ichiro Suzuki followed with a double, and then came Canos crushing line drive down the right-field line off a 1-2 slider that caught too much of the plate. "I just hung the breaking ball. Its a pitch I shouldve bounced," Walters said. With first base open, the Twins couldve intentionally walked Cano. He paused when asked why he thinks teams have been pitching to him despite the tear hes on. "The only way you can look at it is its a team thats not in the race. ... Theyre taking their chances: All right, lets pitch to him," Cano said. Caleb Thielbar bailed the Twins out, limiting the damage to Overbays go-ahead sacrifice fly after inheriting a no-out, runners-at-the-corners situation. But the lead was lost. Walters allowed four hits and three walks while striking out three. NOTES: Twins LF Josh Willingham had arthroscopic surgery in the morning to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. ... Yankees RH Hiroki Kuroda, out of the rotation temporarily because of a left hip flexor problem, will see the team doctor on Friday. Girardi declined to speculate on when Kuroda, who has been the teams best starter, will take his next turn. ... The Yankees will send RH David Phelps (5-5, 4.95 ERA to the mound in search of the sweep in the finale on Thursday afternoon. Rookie RH Kyle Gibson (1-0, 3.00) will make his second start for the Twins after winning his major league debut last weekend with six strong innings. John Matuszak Youth Jersey . LOUIS -- St. George Blanda Youth Jersey . Thats what he did over the past 2 1/2 years with the Washington Wizards. Wittmans approach helped turn the Wizards from pushover to playoff winners. https://www.raiderssportsgoods.com/Womens-George-Blanda-Inverted-Jersey/ . - Anthony Beauvillier had the winning goal in the third period as the Shawinigan Cataractes edged the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2-1 on Wednesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play. Otis Sistrunk Womens Jersey . The Thunder earned the Game 1 win with a 100-86 victory Saturday night. Oklahoma City dominated the first half and led by 22 at the break, but saw its lead shrink to just two points in the fourth quarter. Lyle Alzado Youth Jersey . -- The NFL cancelled its Hall of Fame game between St.Following James Neals knee on Brad Marchand and Shawn Thorntons slew foot and punches to Brooks Orpik in the first period of the Pittsburgh Penguins-Boston Bruins game on Saturday, TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie weighed in on the two incidents on Twitter. "Im no rocket surgeon but have to think Shawn Thornton will get in-person hearing for knocking down Brooks Orpik and KOing him while down. Id also imagine NHL [Department of] Player Safety will be looking hard at James Neals knee to head of Brad Marchand for possible supplementary discipline." McKenzie also addressed Orpiks initial hit on Loui Eriksson and his refusal to fight Thornton that precipitated the two incidents to follow. "Orpiks hit on Eriksson was hockey play, couldve been minor for interference, but well within context off game action.dddddddddddd Orpik shouldnt necessarily be obliged to answer the bell to Thornton on that hit. It wasnt that egregious." McKenzie believes Thornton will have a tough time explaining his actions. "Thornton will have no defence for taking down Orpik and even less for punching him while he was down and not prepared to defend himself. As for Neal, there could be more room for a benefit of the doubt based on actual intent. "Neal on Marchand may or may not have been sneaky dirty or accidentally on purpose, but thats for NHL Player Safety to determine. McKenzie also gave a final assessment on both. "[My] guess is Thornton and Neal will both get suspended with Thornton somewhere between six games and double digits. Neals number of games may hinge on Marchands status. Marchand did not leave the game. ' ' '