MINNEAPOLIS - The New York Yankees are expected to win it all. They sure look as though they can.

David Wells and the Yankees breezed into the AL championship series, blowing out the Minnesota Twins 8-1 on Sunday.

New York hit four doubles in a six-run fourth inning and wrapped up the first-round playoff series 3-1.

''You knew it was only a matter of time before this offense got going,'' Jason Giambi said.

The big-budget Yankees are under increasing pressure to win the World Series after going consecutive seasons without a title. They put themselves in a great position by finishing off the Twins on Sunday.

New York has two days off to rest before hosting Game 1 of the ALCS against either Boston or Oakland. Meanwhile, the Red Sox and Athletics play a decisive Game 5 on Monday night after making a cross-country trip to Oakland.

Pedro Martinez pitches for Boston against Barry Zito, so neither ace would be ready to face the Yankees on Wednesday.

''I'd like to believe we have an advantage, but when you get to the postseason the adrenaline gets you over that stuff,'' manager Joe Torre said.

After hugs and handshakes on the field, the Yankees celebrated - it was controlled, but there was plenty of champagne - in a crowded clubhouse.

''It's exciting for me to finally enjoy one,'' said Giambi, who had never won a playoff series. ''But it isn't just for one round.''

After a sloppy loss in Game 1 last Tuesday that brought back memories of last year's first-round flop against Anaheim, New York beat the Twins three straight times.

The Yankees never panicked, even if some of their fans did.

''It's a series,'' shortstop Derek Jeter said, ''not one game.''

The Yankees sure rediscovered their dominant postseason form in a hurry. Every starter had a hit Sunday, and New York knocked out the Twins' best pitcher, Johan Santana.

''They're the best team in the league,'' Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. ''Somebody has to knock them off.''

Wells improved to 9-2 lifetime in the postseason by going 7 2-3 innings for the Yankees. New York made it easy for him, sending 12 batters to the plate in the fourth.

Bernie Williams and Hideki Matsui each hit an RBI double, and Nick Johnson added a two-run double. Alfonso Soriano's bloop two-run single made it 6-0.

''Six-nothing in the playoffs is like 12-0 in the regular season,'' Minnesota's Torii Hunter said.

Jeter later homered for the Yankees. After losing Game 1 at home 3-1, New York outscored Minnesota 15-3.

''They're a confident bunch,'' Gardenhire said. ''If they start hitting, they win a lot of games.''

The Twins, who beat Oakland in the first round last year, will have to settle for two straight AL Central titles after back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 1969-70.

''I'm proud of our guys,'' said Gardenhire, who watched his team erase a 7 1/2-game deficit at the All-Star break with a major league-best 46-23 record in the second half.

A leg cramp limited Santana's Game 1 outing to four shutout innings. After retiring 10 of his first 11 batters, his success came to a screeching end with one out in the fourth.

A stunned, silenced crowd of 55,875 watched the Yankees bash balls all over the field as the Twins dropped their third straight postseason home game - including a Game 2 loss to the Angels in last year's ALCS.

The four doubles in the inning set a division series record. Santana allowed six hits and a walk in 3 2-3 innings, striking out three.

''Johan's a nasty guy, and they hit him hard,'' Hunter said. ''I can't believe that.''

Gardenhire made a couple of lineup changes, hoping to jump-start a stagnant offense. It didn't help. Leadoff man Shannon Stewart (.400) and Hunter (.429), who was moved to the cleanup spot, were the only ones who hit the ball much in the series.

In six regular-season starts with the Yankees against Minnesota, Wells is 6-0 with a 0.68 ERA - including a perfect game. That's four earned runs in 52 2-3 innings, meaning he was merely four outs from throwing complete games in all of them.

Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens and Wells made for a tough rotation. The Twins batted .198 in the series, just .091 (2-for-22) with runners in scoring position.

''We got ourselves out more than they got us out,'' third baseman Corey Koskie said. ''I'm disappointed in my postseason. I'm sure a lot of other guys are, too.''

Wells gave up two-out singles to Doug Mientkiewicz and Hunter in the eighth and was replaced by Gabe White. Wells allowed eight hits and struck out five without walking a batter.

''It's awesome when you can get run support like that,'' he said.

LaTroy Hawkins misplayed Juan Rivera's bunt for his second throwing error of the series in the eighth, allowing Aaron Boone to score and make it 7-1. Jeter homered off Eddie Guardado in the ninth.

''No one said it was going to be easy going up against those guys,'' Guardado said.