The @Yankees get 3 in the 7th, defeat the Twins 4-1
Didi Gregorius: 3-run HR
CC Sabathia: 6IP 6H 1ER 3BB 7K pic.twitter.com/KnnEmLjE19— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 17, 2016
Didi Gregorius’ late three-run smash was the difference as the New York Yankees topped the Minnesota Twins to snap their four game losing streak.
- New York Yankees: 4 (32-34)
- Minnesota Twins: 1 (20-46)
- American League, FINAL, Box Score
- Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
CC Sabathia did the job yet again, Didi Gregorius belted a huge seventh inning homer, and the three-headed monster sealed the deal to lift the New York Yankees to a series opening win over the Minnesota Twins.
Sabathia was not in vintage form from the start but worked around sizable jams in the second, the fourth, and the sixth innings to hold the Twins in check. The left-hander gave the Yanks what exactly what they needed, surrendering the lone run and striking out seven over six strong frames.
After Jacoby Ellsbury’s RBI single in the sixth tied the game, CC hurled a scoreless sixth to set the table for an inning where he would be rewarded for his efforts.
.@JacobyEllsbury drives in @DidiG18 to tie it at 1 in the 6th! #LetsGoYankees
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 17, 2016
Fernando Abad relieved Kyle Gibson, who was terrific on the mound, with two runners in scoring position and one man out in the seventh and received a warm hello from Gregorius. The Yankee shortstop crushed a first pitch fastball into the right field stands to break the tie and make it a 4-1 ballgame.
.@DIDIG18 had a great night! FINAL: #Yankees 4, Twins 1. #StartSpreadingTheNews pic.twitter.com/PTaiaZNYAy
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 17, 2016
From that point forward, there was little doubt the lead would be squandered. Sabathia turned into an appeased spectator, watching Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller, and Aroldis Chapman put a hammer on the Twins night.
The save was Chapman’s 12th of the season as the Yankees got back to within two games of the .500 mark and three games of a playoff spot in the loss column.
.@AChapman_105 closes the door on the Twins! #NYYSunrunSaveshttps://t.co/C57gtHfWcT
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 17, 2016
"I was looking first pitch fastball, he threw me a first pitch fastball," @DidiG18 on his go-ahead 3-run HR.https://t.co/KaSscK0c9s
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 17, 2016
CC Sabathia – Show Stopper
What an unbelievable run CC Sabathia is on. With his six stellar frames tonight, his ERA since May 1 is a dazzling 0.82. The stretch is by far the most effective of his in his 16-year-career.
Lowest ERA Since May 1
(min. 30 IP)Sabathia 0.82
Bumgarner 1.12
Kershaw 1.14— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) June 17, 2016
In addition, the six innings he managed propelled him to qualification for the ERA title in the American League. He now sits second behind only Danny Salazar (2.19) of the Cleveland Indians with his astonishing 2.20 ERA.
Joe Girardi has shown ever growing faith in his revitalized big man, extending him to 116 pitches and letting him come out victorious in a game he deserved to have.
The 35-year-old played the role of stopper tonight for the Yanks, who truly needed it in order to snap a lingering four game losing streak.
Since May 1, CC Sabathia has thrown 43 innings. He has allowed four earned runs. That's a 0.84 ERA.
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) June 17, 2016
Didi Loves Southpaws
Heading into tonight’s ballgame, Didi Gregorius’ slash against left-handers was an oustanding .357/.400/.411 in 62 at-bats. Moreover, the shortstop had only fanned three times all season against southpaws.
Tonight’s pivotal moment only helped those numbers. When Fernando Abad was called upon for what looked like a favorable lefty-lefty matchup, Didi had different ideas in the back of his mind.
In cranking a three-run shot 372 feet into the right field night, he showed just how comfortable he is when left-handers toe the rubber to face him.
Didi Gregorius is hitting .357 vs. LHPs this season. .290 with runners on, .277 with RISP and .357 with RISPs + 2 outs.
— Bronx Bomber Ball (@BronxBomberBall) June 17, 2016
With his two hit night, the 26-year-old also raised his season batting average to an extremely formidable .280.
Compare what he is doing now to his subpar .247/.311/.315 slash off lefties a season ago and you can see the evolution of a potential shortstop of the future for the Yanks.
Didi: Last 3 games: .545 (6-11), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 runs.
— Jeff Quagliata (@yestoresearch) June 17, 2016
What’s Next?
The Yanks and Twins will battle it out in the second of four from Target Field tomorrow evening.
Masahiro Tanaka (3-2, 3.08 ERA) will take the ball for New York opposing Pat Dean (1-2, 4.17 ERA).
The Yankee ace struggled in his last outing against Detroit, surrendering five earned runs over six and a third in a loss at Yankee Stadium. However, Tanaka has been strong the most part in 2016 and will look to get back in business in Minnesota.
Dean, a 27-year-old left-hander, was stellar in his last start against Boston, allowing only one run over six and a third innings while coming away with a no-decision. Opponents have hit .282 in the 36 2/3 innings he has been on the mound this season.
First pitch will commence at 8:10 pm ET from Minnesota. The game can be seen in WPIX and heard on WFAN 660/101.9 FM.
