New York Yankees 6 — Minnesota Twins 5
The Yankees scored early and the bullpen made it stand.
Against Twins’ starter Kyle Gibson, Brett Gardner started the game with a triple. Brian Roberts, batting in the two spot started his career day with a line drive double to right field that easily scored Gardner. Mark Teixeira would follow it with a double of his own to make it a two-run game. Carlos Beltran would hit the productive out with a sacrifice fly to score the third run of the inning.
Chase Whitley benefited from the early run support but the first batter would be a problem for the rookie right-hander. Brian Dozier would hit a lead off home run in the bottom half of the first inning.
The Yankees would get the offense going in the second inning with a lead off double from Francisco Cervelli. A ground out and a sacrifice fly brought home Cervelli for the fourth run of the game. After a walk, Brian Roberts would hit his second double to put two runners in scoring position. Jacoby Ellsbury would hit a two-run single to right field for two runs and doubled the Yankees lead in the inning.
Like the first inning, Chase Whitley would open the second inning with a lead off home run to Chris Colabello. The Twins would scratch back against Whitley as it became a struggle to get through the start with a sizable cushion provided from the offense. A one-out triple by Oswaldo Arcia scored the one-out single before him and a single by Trevor Plouffe brought in another run to make it a 6-4 Yankees lead.
Chase Whitley would be replaced by David Huff in the fourth inning. Over three innings, Chase Whitley allowed four runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out four. The reliever turned starter is still getting used to going deep into games but today was not one of them.
Unlike Whitley, Huff pitched a sparkling three innings, striking out three without a baserunner. Adam Warren got two outs in the seventh inning and Dellin Betances finished off the inning. Betances would allow a run in the eighth inning but the Yankees still had a one-run lead. With the one-run lead intact, David Robertson got the call for the second save in as many days.
After an impressive catch by rookie third baseman Zelous Wheeler was overturned, David Robertson would instantly pickup his defense and got a pair of strikeouts. A double by Kurt Suzuki put the potential winning run in scoring position but Robertson would get Chris Parmelee to strikeout looking on a outside fastball. Over the last two games, Robertson has gotten all six outs on strikeouts.
Brian Roberts’ career day featured three doubles and a triple, nine total bases for the Yankees’ second baseman. The downside of the Yankees offense today is after the second inning, they only had four hits. The bullpen made this acceptable but a consistent offense is still not quite yet seen.
Win – David Huff (3-0)
Loss – Kyle Gibson (7-7)
Save – David Robertson (20)
Notables
Yankees
*Brian Roberts – 4 for 5, 2 R, 3 2B, 3B, RBI (18)
*Jacoby Ellsbury – 1 for 4, 2 RBI (36)
Twins
*Chris Colabello – 1 for 4, R, solo Home Run (5) in the 2nd, 2 RBI (32)
*Oswaldo Arcia – 1 for 2, R, BB, 3B, RBI (17)
Current Yankees Record: 43-42
