NEW YORK -- Before the season began, beleaguered slugger Alex Rodriguez thought the days of being adored by Yankees fans were over.
Returning to New York's lineup after sitting out a yearlong suspension for his involvement in the Biogenesis performance-enhancing drugs scandal, Rodriguez has restored his star status with a big bat.
Having already surpassed the milestones of his 660th home run and 3,000th hit this year, Rodriguez connected for a slump-busting grand slam in the seventh inning Tuesday night as the Yankees rallied from a three-run deficit against a depleted Minnesota bullpen to beat the Twins 8-4.
"I thought those days were long gone," Rodriguez said. "A grand slam feels pretty awesome and especially to do it late and to help us win a game."
A-Rod extended his major league record for grand slams, hitting the 25th of his career into the Yankees bullpen off J.R. Graham (0-1) to put New York up 5-4.
With a 1-0 count, Rodriguez connected on a 95 mph fastball, snapping an 0-for-18 slump and earning a curtain call from the crowd of 38,007.
Rookie Miguel Sano homered for the second consecutive game, a two-run shot off CC Sabathia, and Shane Robinson had an RBI single against Nick Rumbelow (1-0) in the seventh to give Minnesota a 4-1 lead.
The win was Rumbelow's first major league decision.
"It's always the way you want it when your team ends up winning," Rumbelow said with a smile.
Andrew Miller got four outs for his 27th save.
Pinch hitter Chase Headley singled off left-hander Ryan O'Rourke to begin New York's rally leading off the bottom of the seventh. Brendan Ryan walked and, after Jacoby Ellsbury flew out to right, Brett Gardner walked to load the bases.
Without relievers Casey Fien, Kevin Jepsen and closer Glen Perkins, who had all pitched on three consecutive days, Twins manager Paul Molitor turned to Graham, a Rule 5 draft pick.
"I had who I had," Molitor said. "It's not easy. Sometimes, the guys got to get out of their roles. You hope they can step up, and tonight, they just weren't able to do it."
Rookie Greg Bird added his first major league RBI for New York.
Pitching on an extra day of rest, Sabathia retired the first 13 batters before walking Trevor Plouffe in the fifth. Eduardo Escobar singled two batters later to end the no-hit bid.
"I thought he threw a good game," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It seemed like the sixth and seventh, the innings started to get a little harder for him as his pitch count started to mount, but I thought he pitched a really good game."
"If you look at the first four innings, I thought it was vintage, old CC," Rodriguez added.
Plouffe scored on Kurt Suzuki's RBI double, but Escobar was thrown out at home on a perfect relay by shortstop Didi Gregorius.
The Twins chased Sabathia with three runs in the top of the seventh.
Sabathia pitched 6⅔ innings, allowing four runs and five hits, striking out five and walking three.
Mike Pelfrey worked into the sixth inning for the Twins, allowing five hits and one run. He walked one and struck out four.
Headley had a two-run double, and Ellsbury had an RBI single in the eighth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: After the game, Molitor indicated that Perkins is being sent back to Minnesota because of back problems and will have an MRI on Wednesday.
Yankees: After initial X-rays were negative, first baseman Mark Teixeira (right shin) had further testing after he fouled a ball of off his leg on Monday. Those tests also came back negative and Girardi did not believe a trip to the disabled list was warranted. "He was still really sore today," Girardi said. "I was concerned when he did it, right away, because of where it hit. There's no padding when you hit it off your shin. I mean, that's straight bone."
UP NEXT
Twins: Ervin Santana (2-3, 5.66 ERA) will make his 17th career start against the Yankees in the series finale. He has not defeated the Yankees since Aug. 1, 2008, a span of 10 starts, and is 5-8 with a 6.34 ERA overall against them.
Yankees: Nathan Eovaldi (12-2, 4.26 ERA) faces the Twins for the second time in his career, looking to extend his seven-decision winning streak. He defeated the Twins on July 26, giving up two runs and striking out five, in his eight innings of work.
AWESOME A-ROD
Rodriguez's home run was his 25th of the year, marking the 15th season he's at least reached the total. Rodriguez becomes the sixth player to achieve that feat, joining Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Frank Robinson.
Returning to New York's lineup after sitting out a yearlong suspension for his involvement in the Biogenesis performance-enhancing drugs scandal, Rodriguez has restored his star status with a big bat.
Having already surpassed the milestones of his 660th home run and 3,000th hit this year, Rodriguez connected for a slump-busting grand slam in the seventh inning Tuesday night as the Yankees rallied from a three-run deficit against a depleted Minnesota bullpen to beat the Twins 8-4.
"I thought those days were long gone," Rodriguez said. "A grand slam feels pretty awesome and especially to do it late and to help us win a game."
A-Rod extended his major league record for grand slams, hitting the 25th of his career into the Yankees bullpen off J.R. Graham (0-1) to put New York up 5-4.
With a 1-0 count, Rodriguez connected on a 95 mph fastball, snapping an 0-for-18 slump and earning a curtain call from the crowd of 38,007.
Rookie Miguel Sano homered for the second consecutive game, a two-run shot off CC Sabathia, and Shane Robinson had an RBI single against Nick Rumbelow (1-0) in the seventh to give Minnesota a 4-1 lead.
The win was Rumbelow's first major league decision.
"It's always the way you want it when your team ends up winning," Rumbelow said with a smile.
Andrew Miller got four outs for his 27th save.
Pinch hitter Chase Headley singled off left-hander Ryan O'Rourke to begin New York's rally leading off the bottom of the seventh. Brendan Ryan walked and, after Jacoby Ellsbury flew out to right, Brett Gardner walked to load the bases.
Without relievers Casey Fien, Kevin Jepsen and closer Glen Perkins, who had all pitched on three consecutive days, Twins manager Paul Molitor turned to Graham, a Rule 5 draft pick.
"I had who I had," Molitor said. "It's not easy. Sometimes, the guys got to get out of their roles. You hope they can step up, and tonight, they just weren't able to do it."
Rookie Greg Bird added his first major league RBI for New York.
Pitching on an extra day of rest, Sabathia retired the first 13 batters before walking Trevor Plouffe in the fifth. Eduardo Escobar singled two batters later to end the no-hit bid.
"I thought he threw a good game," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It seemed like the sixth and seventh, the innings started to get a little harder for him as his pitch count started to mount, but I thought he pitched a really good game."
"If you look at the first four innings, I thought it was vintage, old CC," Rodriguez added.
Plouffe scored on Kurt Suzuki's RBI double, but Escobar was thrown out at home on a perfect relay by shortstop Didi Gregorius.
The Twins chased Sabathia with three runs in the top of the seventh.
Sabathia pitched 6⅔ innings, allowing four runs and five hits, striking out five and walking three.
Mike Pelfrey worked into the sixth inning for the Twins, allowing five hits and one run. He walked one and struck out four.
Headley had a two-run double, and Ellsbury had an RBI single in the eighth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: After the game, Molitor indicated that Perkins is being sent back to Minnesota because of back problems and will have an MRI on Wednesday.
Yankees: After initial X-rays were negative, first baseman Mark Teixeira (right shin) had further testing after he fouled a ball of off his leg on Monday. Those tests also came back negative and Girardi did not believe a trip to the disabled list was warranted. "He was still really sore today," Girardi said. "I was concerned when he did it, right away, because of where it hit. There's no padding when you hit it off your shin. I mean, that's straight bone."
UP NEXT
Twins: Ervin Santana (2-3, 5.66 ERA) will make his 17th career start against the Yankees in the series finale. He has not defeated the Yankees since Aug. 1, 2008, a span of 10 starts, and is 5-8 with a 6.34 ERA overall against them.
Yankees: Nathan Eovaldi (12-2, 4.26 ERA) faces the Twins for the second time in his career, looking to extend his seven-decision winning streak. He defeated the Twins on July 26, giving up two runs and striking out five, in his eight innings of work.
AWESOME A-ROD
Rodriguez's home run was his 25th of the year, marking the 15th season he's at least reached the total. Rodriguez becomes the sixth player to achieve that feat, joining Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Frank Robinson.
7:05PM,EDT,August 18,2015
Yankee Stadium, New York, New York
Yankee Stadium, New York, New York
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Minnesota - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| CC Sabathia pitching for New York | MIN | NYY |
| Hicks flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Dozier struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Mauer grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Mike Pelfrey pitching for Minnesota | MIN | NYY |
| Ellsbury struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Gardner reached on bunt single to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Rodriguez flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| McCann popped out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| CC Sabathia pitching for New York | MIN | NYY |
| Sanó struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Plouffe flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Hunter popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Mike Pelfrey pitching for Minnesota | MIN | NYY |
| Beltrán lined out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Bird flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Gregorius hit by pitch. | 0 | 0 |
| Drew grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| CC Sabathia pitching for New York | MIN | NYY |
| Escobar struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Suzuki flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Robinson grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Mike Pelfrey pitching for Minnesota | MIN | NYY |
| Ryan struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Ellsbury doubled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Gardner popped out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Rodriguez lined out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| CC Sabathia pitching for New York | MIN | NYY |
| Hicks grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Dozier grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Mauer struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Mike Pelfrey pitching for Minnesota | MIN | NYY |
| McCann struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Beltrán hit a ground rule double to deep left. | 0 | 0 |
| Bird singled to right, Beltrán scored. | 0 | 1 |
| Gregorius popped out to third. | 0 | 1 |
| Drew flied out to left. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| CC Sabathia pitching for New York | MIN | NYY |
| Sanó fouled out to first. | 0 | 1 |
| Plouffe walked. | 0 | 1 |
| Hunter struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Escobar singled to right, Plouffe to third. | 0 | 1 |
| Suzuki doubled to left, Plouffe scored, Escobar thrown out at home. | 1 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Mike Pelfrey pitching for Minnesota | MIN | NYY |
| Ryan struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Ellsbury lined out to center. | 1 | 1 |
| Gardner flied out to left. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| CC Sabathia pitching for New York | MIN | NYY |
| Robinson walked. | 1 | 1 |
| Hicks grounded into double play, first to shortstop to first, Robinson out at second. | 1 | 1 |
| Dozier grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Mike Pelfrey pitching for Minnesota | MIN | NYY |
| Rodriguez popped out to second. | 1 | 1 |
| McCann walked. | 1 | 1 |
| Beltrán singled to right, McCann to second. | 1 | 1 |
| O'Rourke relieved Pelfrey. | 1 | 1 |
| Bird struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Gregorius flied out to right. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| CC Sabathia pitching for New York | MIN | NYY |
| Mauer walked. | 1 | 1 |
| Sanó homered to left (381 feet), Mauer scored. | 3 | 1 |
| Plouffe flied out to center. | 3 | 1 |
| Hunter flied out to center. | 3 | 1 |
| Escobar singled to left. | 3 | 1 |
| Suzuki singled to left center, Escobar to second. | 3 | 1 |
| Rumbelow relieved Sabathia. | 3 | 1 |
| Robinson singled to left center, Escobar scored, Suzuki to second, Suzuki to third, Robinson to second advancing on throw. | 4 | 1 |
| Hicks struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| 3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Ryan O'Rourke pitching for Minnesota | MIN | NYY |
| Headley hit for Drew. | 4 | 1 |
| Headley singled to left. | 4 | 1 |
| Ryan walked, Headley to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Ellsbury flied out to right, Headley to third. | 4 | 1 |
| Gardner walked, Ryan to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Graham relieved O'Rourke. | 4 | 1 |
| Rodriguez homered to center (426 feet), Headley, Ryan and Gardner scored. | 4 | 5 |
| McCann grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 5 |
| Beltrán struck out swinging. | 4 | 5 |
| 4 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Justin Wilson pitching for New York | MIN | NYY |
| Headley at third base. | 4 | 5 |
| Ryan at second base. | 4 | 5 |
| Wilson relieved Rumbelow. | 4 | 5 |
| Dozier flied out to left. | 4 | 5 |
| Mauer lined out to left. | 4 | 5 |
| Miller relieved Wilson. | 4 | 5 |
| Sanó struck out swinging. | 4 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| J.R. Graham pitching for Minnesota | MIN | NYY |
| Bird singled to right center. | 4 | 5 |
| Gregorius singled to right, Bird to second. | 4 | 5 |
| Headley doubled to right, Bird and Gregorius scored. | 4 | 7 |
| Ryan sacrificed to third, Headley to third. | 4 | 7 |
| Ellsbury singled to right, Headley scored. | 4 | 8 |
| Achter relieved Graham. | 4 | 8 |
| Ellsbury stole second. | 4 | 8 |
| Gardner struck out swinging. | 4 | 8 |
| Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 8 |
| 3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Miller pitching for New York | MIN | NYY |
| Young in right field. | 4 | 8 |
| Plouffe grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 8 |
| Hunter struck out swinging. | 4 | 8 |
| Escobar doubled to deep left center. | 4 | 8 |
| Suzuki struck out looking. | 4 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota Twins | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Hicks CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .272 | .322 | .416 |
| Dozier 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 | .246 | .316 | .489 |
| Mauer 1B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | .264 | .331 | .377 |
| Sanó DH | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 13 | .291 | .398 | .567 |
| Plouffe 3B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | .249 | .306 | .458 |
| Hunter RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | .235 | .288 | .413 |
| Escobar SS | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .246 | .289 | .383 |
| Suzuki C | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .232 | .290 | .310 |
| Robinson LF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15 | .259 | .313 | .340 |
| Totals | 32 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 135 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Suzuki (13, Sabathia); Escobar (18, Miller) HR: Sanó (9, 7th inning off Sabathia 1 on, 0 Out) RBI: Suzuki (36), Sanó 2 (29), Robinson (15) 2-out RBI: Suzuki, Robinson GIDP: Hicks Twins RISP: 2-4 (Suzuki 1-2, Robinson 1-1, Hicks 0-1) Team LOB: 4 | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Yankee Stadium, New York, NY |
| Attendance | 38,007 (76.6% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:16 |
| Weather | 82 degrees, clear |
| Wind | 11 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Pat Hoberg, First Base - Ted Barrett, Second Base - Angel Hernandez, Third Base - Will Little |
No comments:
Post a Comment