MINNEAPOLIS -- The New York Yankees have a bunch of proud, highly paid and accomplished hitters who have been performing much of this season as if they are well past their prime. Signs of a turnaround have emerged in this series at Minnesota. Brian Roberts had three doubles and a triple for the first four-extra-base-hit game of his 14-year career, and the Yankees used their bullpen to preserve a 6-5 win over the Twins on Friday. "Hitting is contagious. I think it goes both ways," said Roberts, who raised his batting average by 11 points to .248. "When a couple guys start struggling, sometimes everybody starts struggling. A couple guys start hitting, it can kind of roll. So hopefully well fall in that direction." David Huff (2-0), the first of four New York relievers, struck out three in three perfect innings after starter Chase Whitley faltered. David Robertson notched his 20th save in the ninth. "Its always big when the bullpen can pick up six innings and we still get a win out of it," Robertson said. The veterans in the lineup did the heavy lifting early on. Jacoby Ellsbury delivered a two-run single in the second to help finish off Twins starter Kyle Gibson (7-7), and the Yankees had 10 hits for the second straight game. "It was probably the most frustrating part, looking back," Gibson said of Ellsburys hit that pushed the lead to 6-1. Gibson brought the American Leagues best home-ballpark ERA among qualified pitchers at 1.54, but he only lasted two innings against the Yankees. One of the runs on his line was unearned, due to a passed ball by Kurt Suzuki that let Mark Teixeira move up and later score on Carlos Beltrans sacrifice fly in the first, but almost every ball was hit hard. "They jumped on him and never let him breathe," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Brett Gardner led off the game with a triple, Roberts drove him in with a double and Gibson was on his way to that kind of day. He gave up six hits and one walk, without any strikeouts. Teixeira had an RBI double, and Brendan Ryan added a sacrifice fly. "Weve said all along these guys are good hitters, and eventually its going to turn," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. The matchup on the mound between Whitley and Gibson quickly deteriorated, but a legitimate duel between Huff and Sam Deduno developed. Whitley gave up eight hits, four runs and one walk in three innings with four strikeouts, putting his spot in the injury-depleted rotation in a tenuous place. The rookie was unbeaten in his first seven starts, allowing three runs or fewer each time, but he has allowed a whopping 27 hits and 17 runs in 10 1-3 innings over his last three turns. "Its very frustrating, but youve got to keep working to give the team a chance to win," Whitley said. Brian Dozier led off the Minnesota first with his 16th homer, and Chris Colabello went deep the next inning in his first at-bat since May 23. Oswaldo Arcia had an RBI triple and scored on Trevor Plouffes single to pull the Twins within two before Huff took charge. "Whether he goes eight or he goes three, were always going to be ready for him. Were there to back him up and get him through the game," Huff said. Dellin Betances dodged trouble in the eighth inning after Colabello cut the lead to one with an RBI groundout. Teixeira made a diving stop to his right at first base on Eduardo Escobars sharp grounder, recovering in time to throw to Betances for the third out with a runner on third. This Independence Day game, pitting the Yankees and Twins at Target Field for the second straight year, was preceded by a ceremony for the 75th anniversary of Lou Gehrigs moving farewell address, shortly after he was diagnosed with the degenerative neurological disease that later took his name. Players from both teams read prerecorded portions of the speech. NOTES: The Yankees are 15-3 at Target Field, including two post-season wins. ... University of Minnesota basketball coach and lifelong Yankees fan Richard Pitino sat in the first row behind home plate. ... David Phelps (3-4, 4.26 ERA) will pitch for the Yankees Saturday, and Yohan Pino (0-2, 6.32 ERA) will take the mound for the Twins. The Twins will honour retiring Yankees captain Derek Jeter before the game with a farewell gift. Jeter had Friday off to rest. Brendan Ryan played SS instead. Stitched USA Soccer Jerseys . Liriano pitched in and out of trouble in his duel with Josh Beckett, and Ike Davis homered to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 Friday night. USA Soccer Jerseys China . Granada goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez saved Morenos first two headers from corner kicks taken by Sergio Garcia, but the defender beat him on his third try after Garcia found Moreno unmarked at the near post in the 78th minute. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/ . -- A lawyer for the fiancee of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez asked a judge Friday to throw out perjury charges, saying Shayanna Jenkins did not wilfully lie as she was bombarded with 1,630 questions over two days before a grand jury. Cheap USA Soccer Jerseys . Pistorius denied the allegation that he said to the close friend of the girlfriend he killed: "How can you sleep at night?" The accusation by Kim Myers provided a bizarre twist during the trial of the world-famous double-amputee Olympian, who is facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder for shooting dead Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, at his home last year. USA Soccer Pro Shop .500. The Jets have now won nine of their last 11, and five of their last six road games. With the win they moved to within two points of Vancouver in the west, the Canucks holding down the eighth spot. Vancouver lost in Boston, while the other big game saw Dallas win in Phoenix.MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Marc Gasol had 16 points and nine rebounds, Kosta Koufos scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 96-92 on Wednesday night.Quincy Pondexter added 15 points for Memphis and Zach Randolph had 11 points. Mike Conley, Nick Calathes and Jon Leuer each had 10 points.The Cavaliers played without LeBron James. Kyrie Irving scored 16 points, Dion Waiters added 15, Kevin Love had 12, and Joe Harris 10. Cleveland finished the preseason 5-2.Irving connected on 7 of his 11 shots while playing just under 24 minutes. None of the Cleveland starters played in the fourth quarter. Waiters was 6 of 10 from the field.Koufos led a fourth-quarter rally for Memphis, hitting three of his four shots and helping the Grizzlies build their largest lead of the night, which they never relinquished.In typical preseason form, there were some sloppy moments for both teams. Early on, turnovers outnumbered field goals and both teams finally crept above 40 per cent shooting near end of the first half. The Cavs took a 44-42 lead into the break as Irving and Waiters had 12 points apiece.The Cavaliers committed six turnoovers in the third quarter and Memphis built its lead to nine points in the fourth, its largest of the night, but Cleveland fought back.ddddddddddddWith Cleveland down 93-91 with 39 seconds left, Cavs guard A.J. Price could manage only one of two free throws. Nick Calathes scored on a layup for Memphis with 24 seconds left, providing Memphis with enough to capture its third victory of the preseason.TIP-INSGrizzlies: Guard Courtney Lee sat out with a tender left ankle. Lee, projected to be a starter when the season opens, was replaced in the lineup by Pondexter. .. Earlier Wednesday, the Grizzlies announced they waived camp invitees Earl Clark and Hassan Whiteside.Cavaliers: James Posey, who played two seasons with the Grizzlies, is now a member of the Cavaliers coaching staff. ... Cleveland 3-point shooter Mike Miller returned to the FedExForum for the first time since the Grizzlies didnt sign him during the off-season, opting instead for free agent Vince Carter.UP NEXT:The Grizzlies close out the preseason Friday night at home against the Miami Heat.The Cavaliers face the New York Knicks to open the regular season Oct. 30 at Quicken Loans Arena. ' ' '