Minnesota Twins 7 – New York Yankees 1
Seeking a series sweep, the Yankees called on Nathan Eovaldi to keep the wins coming.
After two scoreless innings by Nathan Eovaldi and Twins starter Tyler Duffey, the Twins struck first and fast. With one out in the third inning, Danny Santana hit a line drive into right field for a solo home run, putting the Twins ahead by one. Eovaldi settled and retired eight of the next nine to get him to the sixth inning.
In the sixth inning, Eduardo Nunez reached with a single but with one out, was caught stealing for the second out.
Following the caught stealing, Eovaldi walked Joe Mauer and the two-out walk extended a seemingly harmless inning into a disaster. Brian Dozier connected for a two-run home run that gave the Twins three on the day. Before Eovaldi could compose himself, Trevor Plouffe took him deep to make it back-to-back home runs. Then, it got worst when Max Kepler made it back-to-back-to-back home runs, expanding the Twins lead to five.
In six innings, Nathan Eovaldi gave up five runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Four home runs accounted for all the runs Eovaldi gave up as his struggles continue.
While Eovaldi struggled at keeping the ball in the park, Tyler Duffey dominated the Yankees. Through the first five innings, the Yankees were held off the bases. Perfect through five, Duffey got the first two outs before Aaron Hicks laced a double into the right field corner for the first Yankees hit of the day.
Luis Cessa came on in relief but gave up a home run of his own to Eduardo Nunez in the seventh inning. After a scoreless eighth inning between Cessa and Bleier, Kirby Yates came on for the ninth inning. With one out, Yates also gave up a home run, putting the Twins total at six home runs for seven runs.
The Yankees prevented the shutout in the eighth inning when Mark Teixeira hit his first home run since coming off the disabled list. It was his first home run since April. It did little to the scoreboard but Yankees fans can only hope it is a sign of things to come from the potent bat by the Gold Glove first baseman.
Win – Tyler Duffey (3-6)
Loss – Nathan Eovaldi (6-5)
Notables
Twins
*Brian Dozier – 2 for 4, R, Two-run home run (10) in the 6th, 2 RBI (32)
*Trevor Ploffe – 1 for 4, R, Solo home run (6) in the 6th, RBI (24)
*Max Kepler – 1 for 3, R, BB, Solo home run (3) in the 6th, RBI (13)
Yankees
*Mark Teixeira – 1 for 3, R, Solo home run (4) in the 8th, RBI (13)
*Aaron Hicks – 1 for 3, 2B
Current Yankees Record: 37-37
