New York Yankees 3 — Minnesota Twins 2
CC Sabathia notches win number 200 in tonight’s 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins.
The Yankees entered with a two-game winning streak and would need to overcome an early deficit. A leadoff walk to second baseman Brian Dozier would haunt the Yankees lefty. Joe Mauer would make Sabathia pay for the walk A double to center field by Mauer would plate the first run of the game. A second run would score in the fifth inning when third baseman Trevor Plouffe hit a solo home run to give the Twins a two-run lead.
For five innings, two runs were more than enough for Twins starter P.J. Walters. Through the first five innings, Walters allowed a walk and a single to Robinson Cano and a walk to David Adams but that was all.
But that sixth inning.
Brett Gardner started the sixth inning with a walk. Ichiro Suzuki doubled to right field to put two in scoring position for the hottest hitter on the team, Robinson Cano. The Yankees second baseman extended his hitting streak to six with a single in the first but in this inning, his double would plate two and tie the game at two. Travis Hafner would follow with a single that would end Walters’ night on the mound. Zoilo Almonte would strikeout against reliever, Caleb Thielbar, but Lyle Overbay would get the job done. A fly ball to center field would bring home Robinson Cano with the sacrifice fly. The Yankees now had the 3-2 lead.
CC Sabathia gave the Yankees seven innings with two runs allowed on seven hits while striking out nine and walking three. With seven innings from the starter and the lead intact, one of the best eighth inning relievers and maybe the best closer of all time would go to work.
David Robertson would pitch a perfect eighth inning. The ninth inning, by Mariano Rivera, saw the potential winning run in Joe Mauer come up to face Rivera in a fantastic matchup. Rivera would emerge victorious in this clash as he got Mauer to pop out and end the game.
Zoilo Almonte went 0 for 4, ending his five-game hitting streak. Recently acquired Luis Cruz started tonight’s game at shortstop and went hitless in three at-bats.
Win – CC Sabathia (9-6)
Loss – P.J. Walters (2-5)
Save – Mariano Rivera (28)
Notables
Yankees
*Robinson Cano – 2 for 3, R, BB, 2B, 2 RBI (56)
*Ichiro Suzuki – 1 for 4, R, 2B
Twins
*Trevor Plouffe – 1 for 4, R, Solo Home Run (8) in the 5th, RBI (31)
*Joe Mauer – 1 for 5, 2B, RBI (28)
Current Yankees Record: 45-39
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