NEW YORK -- Hiroki Kuroda returned to the mound for one more gritty inning after an extended delay. Still, it mightve been more if Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild hadnt counted all the warmup tosses the right-hander threw to keep loose during the rain. Kuroda returned after a break of 73 minutes to pitch the fifth inning, Robinson Cano had another big hit against the Twins and New York beat Minnesota for the fifth time in two weeks, 2-0 Friday night. Kuroda threw 90 pitches when it counted and about 20 in the batting cage while waiting out the chilly downpour. Rothschild decided that was enough work for one night. "I think I gave Larry a hard time," Kuroda said. Brett Gardner and Cano helped give Kuroda (8-6) just his second win in 10 starts, dating to May 22, with RBI singles in the bottom of the fifth off Twins bullpen after the Yankees had no success against Scott Diamond early on. Boone Logan struck out the side in the seventh after relieving Preston Claiborne with two on. David Robertson was perfect in the eighth and Mariano Rivera finished off the eight-hitter for his 30th save. Rivera reached 30 saves for the 15th time in his career, passing Trevor Hoffman for most 30-save seasons in big league history. New York was playing without captain Derek Jeter after he strained his right quadriceps in his first game this season on Thursday. Jeter will not play in this series and the Yankees will re-evaluate after the All-Star break. "Its deflating a bit," said Lyle Overbay, whose at-bat in the fourth spanned the delay. When the tarps came out he was behind 0-1. "I had a 1-hour, 15-minute at-bat," Overbay joked. "First time I ever had to deal with that." The Yankees improved to 31-7 against Minnesota in New York since 2002. New York swept the Twins in four straight in Minnesota from July 1-4 and has won nine of 12 overall. The Twins were coming off a four-game sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays and have lost 12 of 13. Manager Ron Gardenhire talked before the game about not allowing Cano to beat him after the All-Star drove in nine runs during the sweep. "Bounce it. Please bounce it," Gardenhire said. The first two times up, the plan worked. Diamond walked Cano. But after the rain, with Brian Duensing on the mound, Cano lined a single up the middle to score the Yankees second run of the fifth inning. "Even with the elements, and the atmosphere, I felt like I was focused in pretty well," said Diamond, who gave up one hit in 3 1-3 innings. Luis Cruz had led off the fifth against Ryan Pressly (2-2), who took over for Diamond after the delay with one out in the fourth, with a single, just the Yankees second hit. Chris Stewart sacrificed him to second and Gardner slapped a single the opposite way to left field for a 1-0 lead. Gardner moved to second on the throw home. Duensing relieved and got Ichiro Suzuki to ground to second. Gardner advanced and then scored on Canos hit. That was more than enough to make Kuroda a winner against a Twins lineup that had great difficulty getting hits with runners on. Against the 38-year-old righty, Minnesota had eight runners on but only got one hit when there was a man on base. "We had opportunities and we put men out there just didnt come up with any big hits again, kinda what our storylines been," Gardenhire said. "Get them out there and missed opportunities." Kuroda allowed six hits and two walks. He struck out five. He lowered his ERA to 2.65. Claiborne took over for the sixth and had New Yorks first 1-2-3 inning. But he gave up hits to Pedro Florimon and Brian Dozier to start the seventh and yielded to left-hander Logan. With the rain falling heavily again, Logan struck out Chris Parmelee. He threw a wild pitch that moved the runners up before fanning Joe Mauer, and during Justin Morneaus at-bat threw another ball to the backstop but Florimon failed to score, even after Stewart flipped the slick ball past Logan, rushing to cover home. After being called out by third base umpire on Kerwin Danley on a checked-swing strike three, Morneau flipped his bat on home plate and threw his helmet. Plate umpire Lance Barksdale angrily pointed to the bat and Morneau picked it up. "Boone Logan did an outstanding job," manager Joe Girardi said. NOTES: The Yankees completed a contract with their third first-round draft pick, Aaron Judge, No. 32 overall for $1.8 million. The outfielder out of Fresno State was a compensation pick for losing Nick Swisher to free agency. ... Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguezs rehab game with Class-A Tampa was postponed by rain. ... Morneau singled in the first and has hit safely in 12 of 14 games at Yankee Stadium since 2009. Jeremy Lauzon Jersey . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Jaromir Jagr Jersey .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. http://www.thebostonbruinshockey.com/david-krejci-hockey-jersey/ . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Jaroslav Halak Jersey . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Derek Sanderson Jersey . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. Rockliff set to join Adelaide CrowsJaded Brisbane Lions captain Tom Rockliff is ready to sensationally defect to Adelaide in a trade coup that could launch the Crows into 2017 premiership favouritism.And the two-time best and fairest winner could play alongside Richmonds Dustin Martin, as the Crows look to assemble a formidable midfield.Rockliff, from the Victorian town of Benalla, is favouring a move to the South Australian club, despite his manager, Tom Petroro, saying the 26-year-old is 99 percent certain to remain at the besieged Lions.Rockliff had sought an extension to his Lions contract, which expires at the end of next season, but withdrew the offer mid-year, fuelling speculation of a possible move.Negotiations waned as the Lions prioritised its search for a new senior coach after installing former Adelaide Crows football chief David Noble as its football operations manager.The Crows are also attempting to lure Tiger superstar Martin in a lucrative deal tipped to be worth $6 million across five years.The club has one of the brightest football lists, with seven players nominated in the AFLPAs under-22 squad, and six named in the All-Australian squad of 40.Since Patrick Dangerfields departure to Geelong, the Crows on-ball brigade has been the clubs Achilles heel.Already boasting the games most attacking forward line, and with defensive pillars Daniel Talia and Jake Lever holding the backline, Rockliffs possible inclusion to the side would add much-needed grunt to the Crows lacklustre midfield.Petroro failed to return calls form ESPN.Premiership coach reveals recipe for draft camp grillingAs dozens of the countrys brightest prospects prepare for next months AFL draft combine, their football fate can be determined in just 15 heart-racing minutes.Thats all Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams needed during intense player interviews to work out whether a player had what it took to be a part of his next flag-winning ensemble.You only have 10 to 15 minutes and youre trying to make some sort of judgement on them, which is really unfair, Williams told ESPN this week.Its about how willing they are to join the team but also how willing are they to stand on their own principles. Thats what Im looking for.Williams, until recently an assistant coach at Richmond, was one of the camps most feared interviewers, regularly bamboozling the promising youngsters with mind-game trickery.Williams says his infamous interview techniques have been embellished, but regardless, are entrenched in the combines folklore.Like the time he asked a player if he would jump out of the rooms second storey window to be drafted.Or when he pulled up a deck chair in lane two of the athletics track during the 3km time trail and lambasted those trailing at the back of the pack.During interviews I would often ask what happened after their footy finals. That allows me to find out a bit about their social lives, he told ESPN.Did you go out with everyone? They say yes or no. If they say no, I might say: Arent you a team player? Dont you go out with everyone? If they say yes, I might go: Why did you go with everyone and just follow everyone else?The last thing would be, so you do whatever anyone says? What if someone told you to jump out the window, would you do it?There isnt a right answer. I just muck around just to see how they handle a little bit of pressure.As some wither under the intense grilling, Williams recalls Jimmy Bartel, Darren Glass, Travis Boak, Dom Cassisi and Jude Bolton standing out during his rigorous assessment.But he does admit he judged one superstar player incorrectly.(Nick) Dal Santo was someone when I interviewed him, I didnt think he would ever work for me, Williams said.Thats not saying he wasnt going to be a good player. To see him play over so many years, I was wrong with that.It teaches me to be more open-minded with that personality.You make assessments and you try to see if those assessments are right. You want to be black and white.Williams, who was a victim of Richmonds football department overhaul, still has the passion to remain in the industry. Im looking around for whatever is available, he said. Im not sure what that will be.Skipper Swallow set to hand over reins to ZiebellStand by for an announcement from Arden Street that Andrew Swallow will soon hand over his captaincy to Jaack Ziebell for the 2017 season.ddddddddddddSwallow, 29, has been North Melbournes skipper since 2012, when he took over the role from Brent Harvey.While no-one could doubt Swallows commitment to the cause - the West Australians grunt work and tackling (he was second on the AFL tackling table this season with 165) are still elite -- he has got progressively slower, and his kicking now lacks any penetration.He might even struggle to get a regular game in Brad Scotts new-look midfield next season which consistently gets exposed for a lack of pace.Swallow and Ziebell were part of a five-man leadership group in 2016 that featured Shaun Higgins, Scott Thompson and Jamie Macmillan.Expect Macmillan, 25, whose form this season across half-back was outstanding, to become Ziebells vice-captain in 2017.Cordy still chasing his AFL dreamFormer Western Bulldog big man, Ayce Cordy, could receive an AFL lifeline and have his career resurrected, as seasoned ruckmen become hot property.With clubs more desperate than ever to secure mobile, mature-bodied talls, Cordy has garnered some interest from AFL clubs following a solid season with VFL side, Williamstown.The 26-year-old has proven to be a valuable ruckman-cum-forward, kicking multiple goals in 11 of his 21 matches this year, including three goals or more on six occasions.Cordy, taken at pick 14 in the 2008 draft, was delisted last year after mustering a mere 27 games.The gangly 202cm is one of three Seagulls players who are attracting attention ahead of Novembers draft.Ball magnet Michael Gibbons, who recently won the VFLs JJ Liston Trophy, has had a masterful season, winning best afield honours in last years grand final as well as this seasons state representative match.The standout for us has been Michael Gibbons. Hes had about three or four clubs interested in him, Williamtowns football development manager Chris Dixon told ESPN.Hes our best chance of getting someone picked up. Theres no-one thats committed to him as yet. But hopefully it might become a bit clearer one the footy season wraps up.Former St Kilda forward Sam Dunell, son of Essendon premiership player Frank, is also a chance of making an AFL revival following consecutive VFL Team of the Year gongs.Sams been on the radar for the past couple of years, Dixon said. Its going to be a club that has a specific need for him. Its whether a club sees a role for him as a third tall that works hard up the ground.Sharpshooters skills blunted on the big stageIts funny how finals pressure can turn even the most skilful, composed, sure-footed player into a jibbering wreck.Two of the straightest goalkickers in the game -- the Bulldogs Tory Dickson and Hawthorns Luke Breust -- were pitted against each other in the second semi-final last weekend.Before the match, they sat at No.1 and No.2 respectively on the set-shot accuracy table, Dickson converting at 73.3% (33 goals from 45 shots) with Breust not far behind on 72.8% (43 from 59).Yet, playing in front of 87,823 at the MCG, Dickson went to jelly in the first half, missing three sodas from straight in front -- before eventually finding the target, once, in the last quarter.At the other end, Breust also showed uncharacteristic nerves.His miss in the second quarter, from 30 metres dead in front, has been pinpointed by some as the turning point in the match. It would have put the Hawks 29 points ahead and well on the way to victory. But he poked tentatively at the shot and sent it wide.Breust finished the match with a tally of 1.2, and Dickson 1.3.Random stats of the week:The four finalists record against each other in 2016:GWS 4-2 (117.7%)Geelong 3-2 (110.4%)Sydney 2-3 (95.3%)Western Bulldogs 1-3 (72.9%)1212 - The number of matches that have been played since the Western Bulldogs last grand final appearance, in 1961. This is the longest wait of any club in VFL/AFL history. After that, the teams to round out the top five are: Fitzroy (1070 games, from 1945-1996); South Melbourne/Sydney Swans (1041, from 1946-1996); St Kilda (883, from 1914-1965) and Richmond (755, from 1983-present.)4 - The number of times Sydney midfielder Josh Kennedy has racked up 20 contested possessions in a final. No-one else has done it more than once. ' ' '