The New York Yankees reached the .500 mark Friday night after their 5-3 victory over the visiting Minnesota Twins, so the objective on Saturday afternoon was simple: Push themselves into the above .500 threshold.
The much-maligned Michael Pineda took the mound for the Yankees on a beautiful Saturday in The Bronx and wound up delivering a performance that was perhaps comparable to the fair conditions that were in play in the New York City borough. Pineda omitted merely two hits, one tallied for extra bases – a home run in the second inning by Twins slugger Brian Dozier, which in turn was the only source of offense all afternoon for the visitors from The Land of 10,000 Lakes. He’d fan eight batters and issue just one walk through six innings, so the usually troubled pitcher more than played the role he had to assume.
The other cast members did their job as well. Three Yankees had multi-hit games, none proving better than Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran. While Gardner amassed a three-hit day, it was Beltran who again delivered the goods as he collected his 53rd RBI early on. Later, Starlin Castro would reach base following an error to push the Yankees ahead 2-1, and with the Yankees’ fierce bullpen in play, it was curtains at that moment for Minnesota, whose decade-plus-long struggles against the team in pinstripes continue to trickle.
The Play: Beltran belts in the tying run (+.156)
While it would take three innings for the game to eventually be decided, no play had as big of an impact as Beltran’s game-tying single in the bottom of the fifth. Beltran’s scorcher past Ervin Santana’s glove brought in fellow outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and sent Brett Gardner into second base, giving a big boost to the Yankees’ chances. They would go on to win the battle of wit by day’s end, and it all traces back to this pivotal AB.
Notes
– Betances, Miller and Chapman were their usual selves again. The trio combined to allow just one hit in three innings of work, striking out four batters including the final batter of the game.
– Beltran’s two-hit day pushed his average up to a team-best .290, though Didi Gregorius is currently giving him chase at .285 after a 1-for-4 day at the plate.
– Only one XBH occurred all game, coming off the bat of Twins second baseman Brian Dozier who took Pineda deep in the second inning for his ninth home run of the season.
– Despite getting the victory, the Yankees left 10 men on base to Minnesota’s mere three. Suffice it to say, it is imperative going forward that the Yanks improve with runners aboard and/or in scoring position.
– The victory for the Yankees continues their dominance over Minnesota since 2003. Since then, the Yankees are now 68-28 in the regular season against the Twins.
The Highlight: Brett Gardner aids in litter pickup, puts chicken tender back in bucket
Brett Gardner is the savior of our world for cleaning up the left field area.
He even put the chicken tender in the bucket!
Up Next
The Yankees aim for a sweep of the Twins on Sunday afternoon in The Bronx. Nathan Eovaldi (6-4, 5.02 ERA) will oppose Twins starter Tyler Duffey (2-6, 6.18 ERA) in the Sunday matinee showing on River Ave. and 161st.
Photo: Andy Marlin / USA Today Sports; Video: MLBAM