German chases win No. 13 as Yanks face Twins
Yankees right-hander Domingo German will aim for a major league-high 13th victory and the New York Yankees will try to avoid their first three-game losing streak since mid-June when they face the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night in Minneapolis.
German (12-2, 3.38 ERA) has won each of his past three starts since returning from the injured list. In that stretch, he has allowed just 12 hits and three runs over 18 innings while striking out 18 in victories over the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays.
He has a 1-0 record and 1.54 ERA in three career appearances (one start) against Minnesota. The win came in a May 5 start at Yankee Stadium. German allowed one run on four hits over 6 2/3 innings in a 4-1 victory, finishing with seven strikeouts and three walks.
Minnesota will counter Tuesday with right-hander Kyle Gibson (9-4, 4.02), who has allowed a total of six earned runs over his past four starts. He is coming off a 6-3 victory over the Oakland A's on Thursday during which he gave up three runs on six hits over seven innings while striking out seven and not walking a batter.
Gibson is 1-6 with a 6.50 ERA in nine career starts against the Yankees, who after Monday's loss are still an impressive 21-9 against Minnesota since 2015.
German has allowed 15 home runs in 88 innings this season, but he didn't allow any in the earlier start against the Twins. Minnesota belted five homers Monday night in a series-opening, 8-6 victory, including four in four innings against CC Sabathia.
It marked the eighth time this season Minnesota has hit five or more home runs in a contest, tying the major league single-season mark set by the 1977 Boston Red Sox. The Twins lead the majors with 187 home runs and are on pace for 306 homers, which would shatter the single-season record of 267 set in 2018 by the Yankees.
"I know they're capable of having nights like that, and if you make mistakes, this is a team up and down the lineup that can hurt you with the long ball," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "You've got to be precise. Just not quite enough tonight."
Catcher Mitch Garver hit two of Minnesota's homers to give him 19 for the season. He has three multi-home run games this year. Jorge Polanco, Nelson Cruz and Max Kepler also homered.
"We have an unbelievable lineup," Garver said. "Really, one through nine anybody could do it on any given night. Today just happened to be our day, and it clicked."
The Yankees got a two-run homer from DJ LeMahieu and solo shots from Luke Voit and Gio Urshela as two teams came within one home run of tying the Target Field single-game record.
"That's what playoff baseball is going to be like," Garver said. "Both teams were throwing punches. One team scores and the other team scores right behind them. Incredible game."
Despite all the long balls, the highlight and turning point of the game came on a defensive play in the top of the first inning when Minnesota turned the 13th triple play in team history.
After LeMahieu and Aaron Judge walked, Edwin Encarnacion hit a hard grounder to third baseman Luis Arraez, who leaped on third base and then spun and hit Jonathan Schoop at the second base bag. Schoop then rifled a throw to first baseman Miguel Sano to finish the play.
"Obviously it gets us out of the inning in a spot when we're not in the best situation," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "But it also provides a spark energy-wise and gets everybody going. ... It was a big moment in the game."
--Field Level Media
