MINNESOTA — The Yankees only scored two runs in Tuesday’s loss to the Twins, yet Aaron Boone viewed the evening as a step forward amid his team’s offensive drought.
A Minnesota error made one of those runs possible, but Boone came away pleased with the Yankees’ approach and aggression. On Wednesday morning, the manager hoped the previous night would serve as a stepping stone as the Yankees sought to hang the “crooked numbers” that Boone desperately craved.
“When you’re going through a stretch where we haven’t swung the bats great, we gotta build on things like that,” Boone said before the Yanks’ series finale against the Twins. Hours later, the Yankees beat Minnesota, 12-6, after scoring five runs in the second inning and six in the fourth.
The Yankees had some help to begin the second inning, as a hustle double turned into a man on third after a Twins throwing error. Torres then scored when ex-Yankee Joey Gallo couldn’t corral a grounder from Willie Calhoun (and flipped to the wrong person, failing to record an out at first base). Anthony Volpe then drove in one with a single before birthday boy Aaron Judge doubled to make it a 5-0 game.
Judge, Wednesday’s designated hitter, gave the Yankees a scare when he appeared to hurt his right hand/wrist while trying to steal third base. He immediately ducked into the Yankees’ dugout tunnel as trainers followed. The reigning MVP could be seen flexing his hand/wrist when he reappeared in the dugout, but he ultimately stayed in the game.
Another Twins error in the fourth inning preceded a two-run double from Volpe. Anthony Rizzo did the same to make it 9-1 before a two-run, second-deck bomb from Torres gave the Yankees a 10-run lead.
DJ LeMahieu added another run in the eighth on a long sac fly to left.
Despite the errors, 10 of the Yankees’ runs were charged to Twins starter Kenta Maeda, who entered the game with a banged-up ankle. The right-hander completed just three innings and allowed 11 hits while walking and striking out two.
Domingo German, meanwhile, was fortunate to have a large, early lead, as he fell victim to the longball for the second start in a row. Jose Miranda tagged the Yankees righty for two homers, including a two-run shot, while Gallo launched his own two-run blast – his second home run of the series – in the sixth inning to make it an 11-5 game.
The Twins scored one more run on a force-out in the seventh.
German totaled six innings with five hits, five earned runs, two walks and eight strikeouts. One of three rotation replacements due to injuries, he owns a 5.19 ERA this season.
With the Yankees’ offense showing signs of life, the team is set to begin a four-game series in Texas on Thursday. Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, Jhony Brito and Nestor Cortes are the probable pitchers for the Yankees. The Rangers’ starters include two ex-pinstripers and a former Met in the first three games: Andrew Heaney, Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi.
Martin Perez is scheduled to start Sunday’s game.
Boone discussed the possibility of giving Judge a day off — or at least some DH days — against the Rangers before Wednesday’s stolen base attempt, so don’t be surprised if the outfielder gets some rest.