MINNEAPOLIS – Mike Mussina went pitch for pitch with Johan Santana in Game 1 of the ALDS.

Alex Rodriguez came up huge with his bat in Game 2 and bigger with his legs and mind in Game 4.

Kevin Brown battled for six innings in Game 3. Hideki Matsui tore the cove off the ball all series.

But it was Derek Jeter, Mr. October II, who turned this series for the Bombers.

It was Jeter’s monstrous home run in Game 2 that snapped the Yankees’ 18-inning postseason scoreless string and tied the score at 1-1.

It was Jeter’s mad dash home in the 12th inning that gave the Yankees a 7-6 win in Game 2 and tied the series at 1-1.

It was Jeter who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs in the 8-4 win Friday night.

It was Jeter who got the Yankees going Saturday after the Twins took a 1-0 lead.

He led off the third with a solid single to center, took second on Gary Sheffield’s grounder to second, and beat Jacque Jones’ throw home for the second time this series.

“He’s such a great competitor,” acknowledged Rodriguez. “I mean we all know what a great player he is, but to see him on an everyday basis you get to see what a great competitor he is. Sometimes you don’t get to see that as an opponent.”

And it will be Jeter who leads the Yankees into the ALCS against the Red Sox. The Yankee captain goes into the series as a man on fire. He batted .316 in the ALDS with a team-high four RBIs.

It is October. Jeter is the centerfold.

“It’s a whole new level, but we’ve gotten a taste of it,” Jeter said after the Yankees ended the Twins’ season with a 6-5 win in 11 innings on Saturday. “The stakes are higher, but in terms of the atmosphere, everyone here is prepared.”

No one is more prepared for playoff baseball than the captain. If it’s not a breathtaking flip to home to get Jeremy Giambi at the plate, it’s his dash to the plate against Minnesota.

When the Red Sox forced a sudden-death Game 7 in last year’s ALCS, it was Jeter who set the tone by saying he was looking forward to the high stakes.

Other players worry about what might go wrong. Jeter thrives on the pressure of the moment.

“You have to love this time of year,” said Jeter. “It’s what we play for.”

Jeter needs to lead this week. The team is dealing with the tragedy that struck Mariano Rivera and the champagne cork that nearly popped out one of Flash Gordon’s eyes in the postgame celebration.

Jeter won’t necessarily have to say anything to his teammates. They will feed off his posture.

“This clubhouse runs itself,” explained A-Rod. “Joe [Torre] does such a great job with us. We have a lot of professional guys that just grind every day. I think it’s actually pretty easy [for Jeter to be captain], just because everyone comes ready to play.”

Jeter will be ready. After all, the Red Sox are coming.

“I think that’s what everyone expected,” he said. “I’ve said all year that I’d love to play them – because that means we’re there.”