What a difference one offday makes.
The Yankees got their heads handed to them by the Detroit Tigers in a three-game sweep, extending a losing streak which started in Boston to a full week of futility. But Thursday provided the Bombers a chance to finally hit that reset button. Additionally, some key returners from injury helped to shore up the lineup, and immediately made an impact. Trent Grisham led the way in his first game since June 12th, clubbing two extra base hits and drove in two runs, including a home run, to lead the offense in a 5-2 victory over the Twins. Gerrit Cole provided five solid innings on the mound and Ben Rice also provided a two-run homer in the victory.
In what felt like a rerun of about fifteen different games in recent days, the Yankees fell behind early on a first-inning homer. Kody Clemens took a Cole curveball to the opposite field and into the Minnesota bullpen to stake the Twins to an early 1-0 lead. It’s been a big year for Clemens, who now has 15 homers on the year.
Thankfully, the Yankees didn’t have to wait long for a reply. Inserted back in the leadoff spot, Grisham wasted no time reminding fans just how important his presence in the lineup is by clubbing a leadoff homer off rookie Mike Paredes to tie the game at 1. It wasn’t an A-swing from Trent, but the ball was clearly flying early on a 92-degree night in the Bronx.
Then raindrops started flying instead.
In the third inning, a thunderstorm swept through the area—not too long after it rampaged through my neck of the words in New Jersey. The storm blew by quickly though, and about 45 minutes later, we were ready to play ball again. The Yankees were ready.
Paredes retired the first two men he faced in that third inning, but Grisham continued to make an impact, singling off the first base bag to put a man aboard for Ben Rice. Rice worked the count full, then timed up a center-cut fastball from Paredes, sending it sailing over the right-field wall for a two-run blast to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead.
Benny Bombs’ 24th home run of the season gave New York some breathing room, but the Twins closed the gap a bit in the fourth. Clemens continued his great night with a double, then a textbook two-out swing from veteran backstop Victor Caratini sent a dribbler through the left side for a single to score Roger’s youngest son and make it 3-2.
Cole worked around another extra-base hit in the fifth inning to send Minnesota packing. On a strange night for pitching, Gerrit played stabilizer, striking out seven Twins over five innings before turning it over to the bullpen having thrown 88 pitches. They might have tried to let him pitch into the sixth if not for the delay, but withdrawing after five allowed Cole to exit on a high note following some rough recent outings.
Brent Headrick assumed duties in the sixth inning and Paul Blackburn in the seventh—they did their jobs splendidly, recording two strikeouts apiece and retiring six Twins in order. After the seventh inning stretch, the Bomber offense got back to work.
It wasn’t just Grisham who made his impact in his return to the lineup. Ryan McMahon returned off the IL earlier today as well, and his leadoff double to right sparked a huge insurance rally. The next batter up, José Caballero, attacked the first pitch and found green grass in center with a looping liner which scored McMahon to restore the two-run lead. Caballero then stole second base and advanced to third on a bunt from Austin Wells—which he very nearly turned into a single. With just one out, all the Yankees needed to get an additional run home was a fly ball; Grisham was more than happy to provide, sailing a sac fly to right field to give the Yankees a 5-2 advantage.
Of course, nothing can be drama-free these days, so the Twins got two runners in scoring position in the top of the eighth against Fernando Cruz. With first base open, Aaron Boone opted to intentionally walk Josh Bell, making the force play available at every base while bringing up the potential go-ahead run in the person of Royce Lewis. Cruz and Lewis battled, but Fernando got the job done, inducing a grounder to third that McMahon flipped to second for the inning-ending out.
With the biggest bullet dodged, the ninth inning was a far smoother procession thanks to David Bednar. The Yankee closer continued his momentum from June, in which he quietly allowed no runs in the entire month. Tonight was more of the same, as he struck out the side to lock down his 17th save of the year. A perfectly-placed fastball on the outside corner against Tristan Gray provided the finishing touch. At last, the losing streak is over!
Due to Carlos Rodón’s injury, the Yankees’ plans for tomorrow are a bit in flux. It sounds like Triple-A starter Brendan Beck will be activated to make his second career appearance, but it is not yet known whether he will be a straight starter or the “bulk guy” in relief of an opener, as he was during his cameo on May 7th. Righty Zebby Matthews is expected to go for the Twins on the Fourth of July, with first pitch at 1:35pm ET.
