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Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - The Minnesota Timberwolves officially named Flip Saunders as the franchises new head coach on Friday. Saunders served as the Timberwolves bench boss for parts of 10 seasons from 1995-2005 and oversaw the most successful era of the franchises history, highlighted by trip to the Western Conference finals following a franchise- best 58-24 regular-season record in 2003-04. "After an exhaustive process and several thorough discussions with Flip, we came to the conclusion that he was the stabilizing force needed to lead our team," Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said in a statement. "Flip led us to our most successful seasons; he knows what it takes to win in the NBA as his track record speaks for itself." After struggling to a 25-26 record to start the 2004-05 season, the Timberwolves decided to dismiss Saunders, who returned to the organization in May 2013 as president of basketball operations. He also took a minority ownership stake in the team. "In talking to Glen, we came to the decision that this outcome would be the best for our franchise," said Saunders, who will continue to serve as the teams president of basketball operations. "I will work tirelessly to bring back the success our franchise experienced in the late 90s to early 2000s. To that end, I will assemble a diverse, experienced coaching staff that will bring out the best in our players." Saunders also spent time as head coach of the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards before his return to the Twin Cities. He has a record of 638-526 in parts of 16 seasons, including 411-326 with the Wolves. He replaces the retired Rick Adelman, who spent three seasons with the Wolves and 23 years as a head coach in the NBA. Adelman guided Minnesota to a record of 97-133, including 40-42 this past season. The Wolves missed the playoffs for the 10th straight year, but the 40 wins were the clubs most since a 44-38 mark in 2004-05. 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Detroit Tigers Store . - Wesley Matthews got a chance to practice his bow-and-arrow 3-point celebration on Sunday night. MINNEAPOLIS -- Hours after trading Vidal Nuno to Arizona for Brandon McCarthy and cutting outfielder Alfonso Soriano, the New York Yankees took a nine-run lead by the fourth inning and seemed set for a laugher at Target Field. The game ended with the potential go-ahead run at the plate. Jacoby Ellsbury homered, doubled and drove in four runs as Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins 9-7 Sunday after their roster shakeup and moved back above .500 at 44-43. "Sometimes you cant really pinpoint it, but we like where were at right now," Ellsbury said. "Hopefully keep it rolling." Derek Jeter and Ichiro Suzuki each had three hits for the Yankees, who have won 14 of 18 overall at Target Field. Jeters ninth-inning single made him the eighth player to reach 3,400 hits. "We pay a little bit of attention, but I dont think he pays too close attention to it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Obviously, hes going to end up way up there in record books. He pays more attention to wins, and thats what we worry about." New York took three of four from the Twins after losing nine of its previous 11. The 38-year-old Soriano is in the final year of a $136 million, eight-year contract he signed with the Chicago Cubs, who traded him last summer to the Yankees, where he began his big league career. He was hitting .221 this season with six homers and 23 RBIs in 67 games. New York has 10 days to trade Soriano or place him on unconditional waivers. "Hes a guy thats used to playing every day," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Wasnt every day for him. Maybe it was harder for him to get going, not sure. Im sure hes extremely disappointed." New York catcher Brian McCann returned to the lineup after missing two games because of a sore foot and doubled home Jeter in the first. Ellsburys three-run homer off Ricky Nolasco (5-7) capped a four-run burst in the second that made it 6-0. Hiroki Kuroda (6-6) allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings, his poorest outing since mid-June. Minnesotta closed with four runs in the fourth, and one in each of the last three innings.dddddddddddd After Oswaldo Arcias two-out RBI single pulled the Twins within two runs and left runners at the corners, David Robertson got Kurt Suzuki to hit a grounder to shortstop, where Jeter threw to second baseman Brian Roberts for the final out. Robertson got his 21st save in 23 chances. Jeter drove in two runs in his last scheduled game at Minnesota, although hes expected back later this month for the All-Star game. Nolasco lasted a season-low two innings as Minnesota lost for the 10th time in 13 games. "They hit everything he threw up there," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We got to go better than that. He did nothing for us today. He didnt give us a chance." Trevor Plouffe had an RBI double in the fourth and Chris Colabello followed with a two-run homer, his second home run in three games since his recall from the minors. Plouffe added a solo home run in the eighth. "Cant keep getting behind like this. It just gets back to that," Gardenhire said. "Its the starting pitching. Its not about anything other than that. Weve been struggling scoring runs. We finally put some on the board. But you start a game 6-0, thats no way to play baseball." NOTES: Twins OF Byron Buxton, among the top prospects in the minors, played his first game with Class A Fort Myers after being sidelined with a sprained left wrist. Minnesota GM Terry Ryan said Buxton will play centre field and get two or three at-bats as he works his way back. ... RHP Bruce Billings, recalled Sunday from from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, appears set to start Monday at Cleveland in place of Nuno. He pitched in one game for New York this season, allowing four runs in four innings on April 25 against the Los Angeles Angels. RHP Justin Masterson (4-5, 5.16) starts for the Indians. ... Minnesota will start RHP Kevin Correia (4-10, 4.94) when it plays at Seattle on Monday. The Mariners will use RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (6-4, 3.33). ' ' '