updated 4:43 p.m. ET Aug. 13, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS - The Yankees left New York last week for a 10-game road trip, clearly aware their streak of 13 straight playoff appearances was in jeopardy.

After going 3-7, they’re stumbling back to the Bronx in even worse shape.

“It’s pretty late for us,” said Johnny Damon, who went 0-for-4 with a pair of popups in Wednesday’s 4-2 loss to Minnesota.

Delmon Young hit a three-run homer for the second straight day for the Twins. Meanwhile, the Yankees were sloppy in the field, outpitched and outhit — problems that kept cropping up in their swing through Texas, Anaheim and the Metrodome.

“We have to play better. I know we played some pretty good teams, but we’re going to have to beat the good teams if we’re going to be able to get to the playoffs,” Damon said.

Kevin Slowey (9-8) smoothly worked the corners of the strike zone over six strong innings for Minnesota, surrendering three hits, one run and one walk against a lineup missing Derek Jeter. Joe Nathan sealed the victory in the ninth with his 32nd save, and the Yankees went 17-for-80 with runners in scoring position on the trip.

While praising Slowey, Damon gave the perfect summary of his team’s struggles during this injury-filled, inconsistent season.

“It seemed like he had an easy time with us, and nobody should have an easy time with us,” Damon said.

The Twins and their overworked bullpen, threatening to negatively affect their own pennant chase, held on. After a run scored on a wild pitch by Dennys Reyes in the eighth, Jesse Crain came in and retired Alex Rodriguez on a flyout with men on first and third.

That dropped Rodriguez’s average with two outs and runners in scoring position to .204 in 49 at-bats.

“There are just so many hitters that can go up there and hit the ball out of the ballpark,” Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said, “we just tried to get through it.”

The Twins were reeling from Rodriguez’s tiebreaking solo homer in the 12th inning of Tuesday night’s 9-6 win by New York. But with catcher Joe Mauer back in the lineup after night off — he had a stiff neck — the Yankees failed to build any momentum.

Story of their season.

“There’s a lot of professionals in here. Everybody’s still up. I think we’re going to be fine,” said starter Darrell Rasner, who pitched five decent innings except for Young’s big hit.

Mauer walked to start the fourth and Justin Morneau followed with a bouncer to third base, and Robinson Cano drew an error for leaving the base to catch Rodriguez’s throw. One out later, Young sent a ball soaring over the right-field wall for his seventh homer and a 3-1 lead against Rasner (5-9).

Rodriguez hit a two-out double and Jason Giambi drove him in with a single, the first time this year Slowey gave up a run in the first inning. He had gone a team-record 18 straight starts without allowing one.

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