Minnesota Twins 10 — New York Yankees 4
The lapses in defense strained CC’s final start going into All-Star Break with today’s 10-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
CC Sabathia got the last start going into the break and struggled early. In the second inning, a pair of singles started the Twins off well. Third baseman Jamey Carroll singled in a run and shortstop Pedro Florimon followed up with a single of his own. The Twins went ahead by two.
Then things got messy.
On a bloop hit in the third inning, Vernon Wells had some difficulty with it and it would become a double. After CC Sabathia got the second out of the inning, designated hitter Trevor Plouffe reached base on a routine play that Eduardo Nunez got charged with a throwing error on. These mistakes on defense extended the inning for Sabathia and it would come back to hurt him in a big way. Outfielder Aaron Hicks took a first-pitch changeup deep for a three-run home run.
In the fourth inning, CC Sabathia started the inning with a walk. After getting one out, second baseman Brian Dozier doubled and Joe Mauer walked to load the bases. Justin Morneau would hit a soft single over the mound, sending the Yankees lefty tumbling to bring in a run. Ryan Doumit would hit a ground ball that Lyle Overbay would make a backhand attempt on, only to be charged with a two-run error.
With the three-run home run that came after an error and the two runs scoring on Lyle Overbay’s fielding error, CC Sabathia exited the game after four innings. On 93 pitches, CC allowed eight runs (three earned runs) on eight hits while walking two and striking out five.
In the third inning, the reliable combination of Ichiro Suzuki and Robinson Cano produced the Yankees first run. Suzuki began the inning with a single to right field and Zoilo Almonte reached base on an error by their second baseman. With runners on the corners, Robinson Cano singled through to right field and the Yankees were on the scoreboard. The threat would only produce one run when a force out and a double play killed a potential rally.
The fourth inning had a promising start. Lyle Overbay started the inning with a walk, Eduardo Nunez would walk and Luis Cruz would be hit by a pitch. The bases were loaded with no one out. A pair of force outs at second base brought in two runs. But the big start to the inning produced just two runs. The Yankees still trailed by a score of 8-3.
Preston Claiborne had a solid fifth inning following Sabathia and Adam Warren would come in for long relief. Through the first two innings of relief, Warren was strong striking out three despite allowing two hits. In the eighth inning, Warren’s third inning, he would start the inning with a strikeout but a pair of doubles plated the ninth run of the game for the Twins. A passed ball thrown by Joba Chamberlain in the ninth inning brought in the 10th run and the game was over.
Ichiro Suzuki did hit his sixth home run of the season in the seventh inning but it did little to the insurmountable lead.
With the Twins taking two out of three games, this is the first series win for the Twins at Yankee Stadium since 2001.
Win – Kyle Gibson (2-2)
Loss – CC Sabathia (9-8)
Notables
Twins
*Justin Morneau – 3 for 5, R, 2B, RBI (52)
*Aaron Hicks – 1 for 4, R, BB, 3-Run Home Run (8) in the 3rd, 3 RBI (24)
Yankees
*Ichiro Suzuki – 3 for 5, 2 R, Solo Home Run (6) in the 7th, 2 RBI (25)
*Robinson Cano – 2 for 4, BB, RBI (65)
Current Yankees Record: 51-44
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