This marks the 1st time in his career @ErvinSantana_54 has gone 3 straights starts without issuing a walk. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/xxCZi6kDgP
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 19, 2016
The New York Yankees ultimately took the series from the Minnesota Twins, but a loss in the series finale provided a soft finish to an underwhelming road trip.
- New York Yankees: 4 (34-35)
- Minnesota Twins: 7 (21-48)
- American League, FINAL, Box Score
- Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
Yes, the New York Yankees took three out of four from the Minnesota Twins. However, when putting it into perspective, that should be expected.
What was not expected was a 3-3 road trip that featured match-ups with the Rockies (32-36) and the Twins (21-48). All in all, the Yankees were not anticipating coming out of the two city swing the same way they came in.
The club dropped the series finale and could not cap off a sweep that would have catapulted them to respectability prior to returning home. A frustrating four-run sixth inning which featured one truly hard hit ball came back to bite Nathan Eovaldi and the Yanks.
Esco with an RBI triple to score @BrianDozier.
Upon further review, Plouffe is safe, too!#MNTwins lead 3-2! pic.twitter.com/jogQBh9k6s
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 19, 2016
Good call, Plouffe! #ICYMI #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/Y7Pgq0Pu37
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 19, 2016
Another RBI for Kepler!
He brings Esco in with a bloop single. 4-2 #MNTwins lead.
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 19, 2016
Eovaldi departed after surrendering four runs over five and a third extremely mediocre frames. Dellin Betances did not help the cause in allowing the lone hard hit of the inning, a Kurt Suzuki RBI double to make it a 5-2 ballgame.
This has been a fun 6th inning!@kurtsuzuki with an RBI double to make it 5-2 #MNTwins. #HawaiianPunch
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 19, 2016
Brian Dozier followed with a booming solo shot in the seventh inning to provide insurance for a lackluster Twins bullpen that was forced into backing up Ervin Santana. The right-hander hurled seven and a third innings of strong, two-run ball and left after 104 pitches.
#DozierGoesDeep! pic.twitter.com/EhKUX78gns
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 19, 2016
The Yankees threatened in the eighth and brought the tying run to the plate, but Carlos Beltran and Alex Rodriguez struck out sequentially to leave two runners stranded. Two absolute bombs, 437 and 435 feet, off the bat of Brian McCann in the second and ninth, respectively, were the only two highlights in an otherwise quiet day for New York.
Brian McCann kissed this one a looong way away. https://t.co/QZQAhSotv1 #LetsGoYankees pic.twitter.com/aq5649vi8u
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 19, 2016
McCann rocking the #FathersDay threads on his home run trot. #LetsGoYankees pic.twitter.com/lxRKOXe9bb
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 19, 2016
The loss marked the third time the Bombers have gotten back to .500, or above, and proceeded to fall back below the mark within the following two days.
Max Kepler was the star of the day for Minnesota as the 23-year-old collected three hits and two runs batted in, including a fifth inning solo shot that started the team’s scoring.
Kepler flower power. https://t.co/2uh5FB7aIS #ICYMI #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/tQ2kIHjMYi
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 19, 2016
What a day for Kepler! His 1st 3-hit game with a homer, single, double, 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. #MNTwins ??? pic.twitter.com/Esr3x705tV
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 19, 2016
What’s Next?
The Yankees will travel back to New York to start a nine game home stand that will include match-ups with two of the teams they just met on their road trip.
Their first test will be the Colorado Rockies, a team that swept them in two games this past week at Coors Field. The upcoming abbreviated two game set will be sandwiched in between two off days.
Following Monday’s off day, the Yanks and Rockies will kick off the set as Ivan Nova (5-4, 4.77 ERA) will go up against Chad Bettis (5-5, 5.63 ERA).
In last week’s meeting, Bettis got back on track by allowing two runs over six strong frames in a victory. Conversely, Nova surrendered 10 hits and five runs over five subpar frames, coming up on the losing end of that very matchup.
First pitch will commence at 7:05 pm ET in the series opener as the Yankees will look to get back even at .500 yet again. The game can be seen on WPIX and heard on WFAN 660/101.9 FM.