Johan Santana had his best start in six weeks, shutting down the Yankees for seven innings and leading the Minnesota Twins to a 7-3 victory last night.

Alex Rodriguez went 0-for-3 with two walks on his 30th birthday, and Al Leiter struggled with his control and lost his second straight start for the Yankees, who fell two games back of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.

The Twins had had scored just 43 runs in 13 games following the All-Star break, going 19-for-101 with runners in scoring position, and they were 2-for-14 in that category through the six innings. But they broke open the game with three runs in the seventh against Tanyon Sturtze and stopped a 10-game regular-season losing streak at Yankee Stadium.

Santana (10-5) was more effective than he was when he beat the Yankees 2-0 in Game 1 of last year’s division series. In that game, he needed a record five double plays to help keep New York in check.

Last night, he scattered seven hits and only once came close to giving up a run – center fielder Torii Hunter threw out Derek Jeter at the plate in the third inning.

Santana won his third straight start after dropping three consecutive decisions, striking out five and walking two. He hadn’t shown the form that earned him the 2004 AL Cy Young Award since throwing a four-hitter against Arizona on June 8.

Justin Morneau had an RBI double in the third off Leiter (1-2) to give Minnesota the lead, and Hunter’s RBI single and Shannon Stewart’s two-run double made it 4-0 in seventh. Jacque Jones added a two-run homer in the eighth against Scott Proctor, and Morneau connected in the ninth off Alex Graman.

Juan Rincon forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk to Jason Giambi in the eighth, and the Yankees scored two more on second baseman Bret Boone’s throwing error before Joe Nathan entered and got four outs for his 28th save in 31 opportunities. With two on, Bernie Williams nearly tied it with a drive down the right-field line that landed a few feet foul.

Making his first start in pinstripes since April 14, 1989, Leiter labored through five innings, allowing the leadoff batter to reach base four times and throwing 115 pitches – just 62 for strikes. But thanks to a well-executed relay by Hideki Matsui in left and Jeter at shortstop, he allowed just one run.

Leiter walked five, hit a batter, and struck out two. The Twins loaded the bases in the first two innings but came away without a run.

New York also threw out a runner at the plate in the third. Morneau hit a double off the wall in left field, scoring Joe Mauer. Boone tried to come around from first but was easily thrown out by Jeter’s relay.

Matsui played in his 424th straight game, tying a major league record for consecutive games played to start a career. Ernie Banks also played in 424 games for the Chicago Cubs from 1953-56.

***

Prior to the game, the Yankees signed right-hander Hideo Nomo to a minor league contract, turning to yet another discarded pitcher to fill their injury-ravaged rotation.

The Yankees claimed the 37-year-old Nomo off waivers from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who designated him for assignment on July 16 after he went 5-8 with a 7.24 ERA.

Nomo hasn’t pitched for 10 days, and Yankees manager Joe Torre said he wasn’t an option to pitch on Saturday – a slot that remains vacant.

“He’s got to get some work in, sharpen up,” Torre said. “It’s like being on the DL.”

With three pitchers from the Yankees’ opening day rotation injured – Kevin Brown (back), Jaret Wright (shoulder), and Carl Pavano (shoulder) – the Yankees have used 12 starters this season, including injured rookie Chien-Ming Wang.