IN BRIEF : Twins Rough Up Yankees, 7-1

ly Backman and Kirby Puckett hit successive triples to highlight a five-run sixth inning and Shane Rawley allowed three hits in six innings in his Minnesota debut today as the Twins beat the New York Yankees 7-1.

Both benches emptied in the ninth inning when Kent Hrbek charged the mound after reliever Dave Righetti threw a pitch high and inside. Hrbek was stopped by several players and neither player was ejected.

Yankees starter Dave LaPoint, who signed as a free agent for $2.575 million for three years in December, led 1-0 and had a perfect game through four innings until allowing Gary Gaetti’s leadoff double in the fifth. He then retired the next three batters before running into trouble in the sixth.

LaPoint was the Yankees’ second straight big-money free agent to be roughed up by the Twins. Andy Hawkins took the 12-2 loss on Wednesday night.