New York Yankees 10 — Minnesota Twins 4
New month, new streak in tonight’s 10-4 win over the Minnesota Twins.
Entering tonight’s game, the Yankees had a five-game losing streak and turned to veteran left-hander, Andy Pettitte, to get the Yankees back to winning ways. After Robinson Cano put the Yankees ahead with his first home run of the night in the first inning, Pettitte would give it back and then some.
Pettitte would walk the leadoff batter and gave up a double before catcher Ryan Doumit brought home two with a single to center field. Another run would score on outfielder Oswaldo Arcia’s run-scoring single to erase the Yankees lead and put the Twins ahead by a score of 3-1.
Robinson Cano would have none of that as he would hit a two-run home run, his second home run of the game to put the game at a 3-3 knot. Cano is the only Yankee on the roster to have a multi-home run game.
In the fifth inning, Yankees history would be made.
With one out, Andy Pettitte faced first baseman Justin Morneau with one on. After striking out outfielder Clete Thomas in the second inning, the 41-year-old Pettitte was one strikeout away from becoming all-time Yankees strikeout leader. On a 2-2 fastball, Justin Morneau would swing and miss to become the second strikeout of the day. But more importantly, the 1,958th strikeout in Andy Pettitte’s Yankees career passing Whitey Ford, one of the greatest in the game.
With the game still tied, Pettitte was concerned with winning the game too. Unfortunately, outfielder Chris Parmelee would open the sixth with a home run and that would be the last pitch Pettitte would throw tonight. Shawn Kelley would finish off the inning but Pettitte’s night was over.
Andy Pettitte went five innings and allowed four runs on six hits with four walks and two record-setting strikeouts.
With the Yankees still down by one, that Robinson Cano guy would start the offense up one more time. Hitting a double to lead off the eighth inning, Ichiro Suzuki would follow with a bunt single in a pinch-hit appearance. The threat of Ichiro Suzuki tormented pitcher Jared Burton and caused a throwing error that would allow Cano to score. Zoilo Almonte would single in the go-ahead run and Chris Stewart would ground out to bring in an insurance run.
The Yankees would keep on scoring in the ninth inning. After a single by Gardner and a double by Nix, the Twins learned their lesson and intentionally walked Cano. Travis Hafner and Zoilo Almonte singled in a pair of runs. Chris Stewart walked to bring home a run and a passed ball finished off a four-run ninth inning.
The Yankees would end the game with 10 runs scored and a (seemingly) rare appearance by David Robertson and Mariano Rivera in successful innings of work.
Win – Joba Chamberlain (1-0)
Loss – Jared Burton (1-6)
Notables
Yankees
*Robinson Cano – 3 for 4, 4 R, BB, 2B, 2 HR (19; Solo & 2-Run) in the 1st & 3rd, 3 RBI (51)
*Zoilo Almonte – 3 for 5, R, 2 RBI (7)
Twins
*Ryan Doumit – 2 for 5, R, 2 RBI (37)
*Chris Parmelee – 2 for 3, R, BB, Solo Home Run (8) in the 6th, RBI (18)
Current Yankees Record: 43-39
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