BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- In the second half of the regular season, few pitchers needed less help than Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins . He needed - and got - plenty in Game One of their American League Division Series.

Santana scattered nine hits over seven innings and benefited from a record five double plays as the Twins again took the opener of the AL Division Series with a 2-0 blanking of the New York Yankees .

No pitcher was more dominant in the second half than Santana, who was 13-0 with a 1.18 ERA after the All-Star break. The Cy Young Award favorite gave the Yankees numerous chances but was aided by double plays and the spectacular defense of outfielders Torii Hunter and long-time nemesis Shannon Stewart .

Hunter was responsible for the second double play when he caught John Olerud 's line drive to center field and threw out Jorge Posada at home plate to end the second inning. One batters earlier, Stewart made a leaping catch at the left field fence to rob Ruben Sierra of a home run.

"Tonight we made some plays," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. " Torii Hunter stepped up and played the game like we see him do all the time - some catches in center field, a great throw. We turned four or five double plays, I don't even know."

"We had many opportunities; five double plays," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "The only way you can turn a double play is to catch the ball and make the play. Santana probably didn't have his best stuff tonight, but when he needed to get a ground ball, he got it."

In Game One of last year's Division Series, Stewart stole a home run from Hideki Matsui in the ninth innning to preserve Minnesota's 3-1 win.

Santana (1-0) also shut down the Yankees in that contest but was limited to four innings due to leg cramps. The lefthander walked one and struck out five in this one before Juan Rincon and Joe Nathan finished up.

"You have to be careful with them because if you make mistakes, then you have to pay for it," Santana said. "I was able to throw the right pitch at the right time because I know my teammates can make some plays."

"Johan pitched good, but not his best," Hunter said. "I don't know how he did it against the best hitting team I have seen."

Santana even got help from the umpires, who reversed their initial ruling in the bottom of the seventh and called Sierra's apparent home run a foul ball.

"That was foul when it went off the bat," Twins catcher Henry Blanco said. "They made the right call."

An inning later, Hunter climbed the fence in right-center to rob Alex Rodriguez of an extra-base hit.

Stewart, who hit .714 against New York during the season, singled in the Twins' first run in the third. Hours after rejoining the team following the death of his father, Jacque Jones added insurance in the sixth with his first career postseason homer.

"You guys (in the media) probably know, I don't do too good against (Mike) Mussina, so I was kind of ready tonight," Jones said. "He left a pitch up that I could get to and I hit it pretty good."

Both runs came off Mussina (0-1), who gave up seven hits and a walk while striking out seven.

"I threw a good breaking ball and I kept using it when needed," he said. "For the most part, I thought I pitched pretty well."

Game Two is Wednesday night in New York, where the Yankees will try to avoid their third straight postseason shutout. New York sends Jon Lieber to the mound, Minnesota counters with Brad Radke .