The mistakes and mental lapses Wednesday grew too much for the Twins. Frustration boiled over in the second inning, when center fielder Carlos Gomez snapped a bat over his knee after popping out on a bunt attempt, and again in the fifth, when left-hander Glen Perkins yelled at second baseman Alexi Casilla for failing to know how many outs there were and, as a result, failing to turn a routine double play.

That and more led to Minnesota's third straight loss at Yankee Stadium, ensuring New York's fourth sweep in its last seven series in the Bronx against the Twins. It was also Minnesota's fourth straight loss overall, but the Twins, though clearly dispirited after Wednesday's game, are holding onto how they've responded to loss streaks at other times this season.

Not long after the team was swept by the White Sox in a four-game series in Chicago, the Twins went on a 10-game winning streak. After being swept in a three-game series in Boston earlier this month, Minnesota took three of four in Detroit to finish the first half.

Still, though confident they start a hot streak after being swept in the Bronx, first baseman Justin Morneau said the Twins, now 21-27 on the road, must be better away from the Metrodome.

"Hopefully we can spend the off day (Thursday) watching movies, playing golf and forgetting about New York," said Morneau, who went 1-for-9 in this series and was 0-for-13 until his single Wednesday. "We're going to have to play better on the road if we're going to be considering ourselves a playoff team. We can't be (six) games under .500. Everywhere we have to play better, not just here and Boston."

YANKEES 5, TWINS 1: LHP Glen Perkins gave up two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth, while Minnesota was shut out for eight innings by rejuvenated RHP Mike Mussina.

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