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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 18: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the ninth inning of the game on June 18, 2016 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Yankees defeated the Twins 7-6. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Yankees Game 68: Aroldis Chapman holds on for comeback win

New York Yankees 7 – Minnesota Twins 6

After securing the first two wins of the four-game series in Minnesota, the Yankees looked to lock up a series win with their third straight victory.

Michael Pineda appeared to have turned a corner lately but one monster still loomed over Big Mike, the third out of an inning. In the second inning, Pineda gave up a one-out double to Max Kepler and got the second out, but the third out took one batter too long as Eduardo Escobar hit a run-scoring single to put the Twins ahead by one early.

In the fourth inning, Pineda sandwiched a pair of strikeouts around a triple by Brian Dozier but Byung Ho Park made it irrelevant what base the runner was on when he hit a two-run home run the other way to put the Twins ahead by three. An unearned fourth run against Pineda scored in the sixth inning after he committed a fielding error.

In 5 1/3 innings, Michael Pineda allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits with nine strikeouts and no walks.

Through the first six innings against Ricky Nolasco, the Yankees offense scattered four singles that did not amount to any runs but things turned around for the Bronx Bombers in the seventh inning. Carlos Beltran got on base to start the inning with a single and Alex Rodriguez went the other way with a two-run home run to right center field, cutting the four-run deficit in half.

In the eighth inning, reliever Buddy Boshers looked to maintain the two-run lead but Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran begged to differ. After a one-out single by Gardner, Kevin Jepsen came on to face Carlos Beltran and the Yankees switch-hitter greeted him with a two-run home run to left field, tying the game at 4-4.

After Anthony Swarzak and Andrew Miller combined for 2 2/3 scoreless, the comeback came to fruition in the top of the ninth inning.

Fernando Abad came on to maintain the tie but started the ninth inning with a leadoff walk of Chase Headley. Didi Gregorius dragged a bunt beyond the pitcher’s reach for an infield single and a passed ball put the two Yankees base runners in scoring position. Reliever Ryan Pressly came on after an intentional walk of Rob Refsnyder loaded the bases. Where Starlin Castro could not come through after striking out, Jacoby Ellsbury came through with a two-run single to put the Yankees ahead for the first time of the game. A crucial wild pitch allowed Refsnyder and Ellsbury to move into scoring position for Brett Gardner to hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Refsnyder as the third run of the inning.

Aroldis Chapman came on for the bottom half of the ninth inning and punched out the first two batters but ran into difficulties getting the last out. Eduardo Escobar kept the game alive with a solo home run to left field. Pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki followed suit, hitting a solo home run of his own, going back-to-back to bring the Twins within one. Pinch-hitter Trevor Plouffe tried to keep the long ball going but grounded out to secure the Yankees’ comeback victory and third straight win.

 

Win – Andrew Miller (4-0)

Loss – Fernando Abad (1-1)

Save – Aroldis Chapman (13)

Notables

Yankees

*Carlos Beltran – 3 for 5, 2 R, Two-run home run (18) in the 8th, 2 RBI (48)

*Jacoby Ellsbury – 2 for 5, 2 RBI (24)

Twins

*Eduardo Escobar – 2 for 4, R, Solo home run (2) in the 9th, 2 RBI (13)

*Byung Ho Park – 1 for 3, R, Two-run home run (12) in the 4th, 3 RBI (23)

 

Current Yankees Record: 34-34