FINAL: #Yankees 2, Twins 1. #StartSpreadingTheNews pic.twitter.com/EweqyeyIot
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 25, 2016
After getting to the .500 mark and falling back below on numerous occasions, the New York Yankees have gotten over the hump following a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins.
- Minnesota Twins: 1 (23-51)
- New York Yankees: 2 (37-36)
- American League, FINAL, Box Score
- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Sure, it was against the lowly Twins, but Michael Pineda turned in his best start of the season supplemented by the high-octane late inning ‘pen helped the New York Yankees become a winning ballclub again.
Pineda went six innings while only surrendering one run on two hits including eight strikeouts. It was only the second time Big Mike has allowed only one run here in 2016 with the last one coming on June 2 against the Detroit Tigers.
For the Twins, Ervin Santana helped make it a pitcher’s duel as he dealt five innings of one-run ball against a team in which he owned a 5.96 ERA against entering today’s contest.
The scoring was initiated by the Twins this afternoon when Brian Dozier smacked his ninth home run of the season to left off Pineda in the top of the second.
BRIAN DOZIER WENT OPPO TACO TODAY!
Just kidding. He pulled it. https://t.co/ayhkeSLm5n pic.twitter.com/WVr5hm9AlA
— Parker Hageman (@ParkerHageman) June 25, 2016
It was Dozier’s first career home run at Yankee Stadium but has two home runs in three of his last games played against the Yankees dating back to June 19 when he slapped a solo shot off Kirby Yates at Target Field.
That would be the lone run baseball’s worst team would score but the Bombers sure weren’t going to let that be the prevailing one as they got on the board in the bottom of the fifth.
With Santana on the hill, Carlos Beltran ripped a sharp ground ball into center field that scored Jacoby Ellsbury to knot the game up at one apiece.
.@carlosbeltran15 ties the game with an RBI single! 1-1 in the 5th.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 25, 2016
Since June 17, Beltran is slashing .417/.481/.833 with three home runs but the shocking statistic is that he is on pace for 44 home runs and 122 RBI. It may be crazy to think that will keep up but for now it seems as though the 39-year old has found the fountain of youth and the Yankees can only soak in the benefits.
After two scoreless frames exchanged by both squads, the Yankees took a lead they wouldn’t let up in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Starlin Castro hit what appeared to be an inning double play but Eduardo Escobar failed to field it cleanly thus allowing Aaron Hicks to score the go-ahead run from third base.
?-lin with the go-ahead RBI! #Yankees lead 2-1 in the 8th.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 25, 2016
Thanks to that and Aroldis Chapman’s 15 save of the year, New York was able to secure their fifth win (four in which have been come from behind) gainst the Twins.
Another day, another amazing outing by @AChapman_105. https://t.co/UzsElDyT7p #NYYSunrunSaves pic.twitter.com/ZYbUsUf2mf
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 25, 2016
RECAP: #BigMike fires 6 strong innings as the #Yankees get back over .500. https://t.co/yGr8s38IX7https://t.co/NfXAm69V3N
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 25, 2016
The #Yankees are back over .500, and the key to staying over .500, says Carlos Beltran, is consistency.https://t.co/FIsviSQfws
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 25, 2016
Brian McCann says Pineda’s stuff today was like prime real estate: location, location, location. #Yankeeshttps://t.co/1xXJ4Y18Se
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 25, 2016
Still Off The Mark:
In his first game back from the disabled list, Mark Teixeira was a little rusty in his return to the Bronx. Having not played in a game since June 3, the Yankees’ first baseman returned by going 0-for-3 with a strikeout and a walk.
Yes, his batting average on the year is now .176 but he showed the ability to have a good at-bat today as he worked a 3-2 count on Ryan Pressly in the eighth.
Despite what the box score may say, I think Teixeira is optimistic he is back in the lineup as well as ready to contribute to a team that could really use a productive Tex.
The box score says 0-for-3 with a walk, but Mark Teixeira should be encouraged by today, says @JackCurryYES.https://t.co/3na1tweBqm
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 25, 2016
What’s Next:
The Yankees will take the brooms out and attempt to sweep the Twins out of New York on Sunday afternoon.
Nathan Eovaldi will look to bounce back during this dismal month in which he owns a 9.00 ERA in four June starts. In total, he has permitted 20 runs and 32 hits in 20 innings, containing a loss to the Twins in his last week.
The Twins will look to salvage the series by using 25-year old Tyler Duffy, who allowed six earned runs in a season-low three innings against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. It was also the seventh straight start in which he gave up four runs so look for the Yankees to be wearing their hitting shoes tomorrow afternoon.
ESNY will have your pregame while the YES Network will broadcast the contest starting with coverage at noon. First pitch will be delivered by Nasty Nate at around 1:05 PM ET.
