Sunday afternoon’s rubber game between the Yankees and Minnesota Twins featured much intrigue. In addition to a series win being at stake, former Yankees’ RHP Phil Hughes made his return to the Bronx.
Though he won as many as 18 contests in a Yankee uniform, Hughes’ tenure in pinstripes was disappointing. The hurler, who America Baseball ranked as the fourth-best prospect in all of baseball in 2007, often struggled to finish batters and surrendered too many homeruns, especially at Yankee Stadium. Hughes gave up 10 more dingers - 17 - at home last season than he did on the road - seven. Following a disastrous 4-14 (5.19 ERA) campaign in 2013, Hughes departed the Yankees (29-26) for the Twins (26-28), who signed him to a three-year, $24 million contract.
Hughes (6-1; 3.12 ERA) excelled on Sunday, surrendering only two runs on three hits and two walks over eight innings. He retired the final 15 Yankees’ batters he faced after the first four hitters reached in the fourth. Even so, New York held a 2-1 lead entering the ninth.
The game imploded for the Yankees in the top of the ninth inning.
RHP David Robertson, who threw 27 pitches in converting his 12th save in 13 chances on Saturday, had nothing on Sunday. DH Josh Willingham greeted Robertson (0-2; 4.50 ERA) with the tying dinger, and the rout was on. The Twins scored six runs in the inning for a 7-2 edge. Minnesota took the lead, 3-2, on a two-out double by 2B Brian Dozier. Then, against RHP Matt Daley, 3B Eduardo Nunez burned his old team with a two-run double inside the right field line. Nunez was designated for assignment by the Yankees after spring training.
New York’s pitching had been superb prior to the ninth-inning debacle. RHP Chase Whitley surrendered only one run on five hits over five frames, and RHPs Dellin Betances and Adam Warren combined for three shutout frames. Betances was especially dominant, striking out five of the six batters he faced.
The Twins took a 1-0 lead on a RBI knock by 3B Trevor Plouffe with two outs in the third inning.
New York responded to take a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning. LF Brett Gardner led off the inning with a triple, and SS Derek Jeter singled him home with the tying run. RF Ichiro Suzuki then brought home the lead run with a sacrifice fly to medium centerfield. Still, having loaded the bases with nobody out, the Bombers blew a golden opportunity to take a commanding lead.
Notes:
1. Minnesota, which won two of three games at Yankee Stadium last season, took consecutive road sets in the Bronx for the first time since 1992. That year, at the old Yankee Stadium, the Twins won three-game series between May 1-3 and July 6-8, respectively. Minnesota went winless, 0-10-1, in 11 series in the Bronx from 2002 to 2012.
2. 1B Mark Teixeira returned to the lineup in Friday night’s 6-1 loss after missing the previous three games with right wrist stiffness. He departed Saturday’s 3-1 win with soreness in the wrist, however, and will be out until at least Tuesday.
3. Whitley made his first start against an American League opponent. His first three starts came in road games against the Mets, the Cubs, and the Cardinals, respectively.
4. Hughes, who didn’t issue a walk over 33.1 innings in May, walked C Brian McCann twice on Sunday.
5. Each manager lost a challenge in the game. Twins’ Skipper Ron Gardenhire challenged a force play at first base in the third inning, and Yankees’ Manager Joe Girardi challenged a similar play in the eighth inning, where Gardner dove head first into the bag.
6. Hughes earned his first win at Yankee Stadium since May 4, 2013 against Oakland. He had gone winless, 0-9, in his ensuing 11 starts in the Bronx.
The Yankees will host the Seattle Mariners on Monday to make up their April 30 rainout before the Oakland A’s come to town for a three-game set beginning on Tuesday.
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