How’s this for a stat? Courtesy of Aaron Gleeman of Hardball Talk: “Counting the playoffs the Twins are now 23-67 against the Yankees under Ron Gardenhire, including 15-32 at home.”
So when people make jokes about the Yankees owning the Twins, they’re pretty much spot on.
That theme continued today behind strong pitching from CC Sabathia and a nice performance by the offense. Sabathia pitched eight innings, gave up two runs on six hits, one walk and he struck out 10. Poor Joe Mauer accounted for three of those strikeouts and finished the day 0-4.
Sabathia threw 118 pitches which was his highest pitch total since June 7th. He has 21 strikeouts in his last two games and he only had 20 in previous four starts combined.
The offense exploded for six runs in the third inning and none of those runs came on a home run – here was a single, a double, a triple and a wild pitch involved. The lone home run of the game came off the bat of Chris Dickerson in the sixth inning and put the Yankees up 8-1.
The Twins scored in the second thanks to a Matt Carson RBI single and in the seventh when Pedro Florimon hit his own RBI single.
Brett Gardner made his first appearance since having surgery on his injured elbow. He was put in for defense in the ninth inning and played left field. No balls were hit in his direction.
So with today’s victory, the Yankees currently sit two games up on the Orioles who are playing the Blue Jays later tonight. The magic number to get into the playoffs is four and the magic number to clinch the East is six.
Some facts:
- Sabathia threw 55 fastballs, 32 sliders, 21 sinkers, nine changeups and one curve – courtesy of the YES Network
- Jeter’s 19-game hit streak was snapped.
- After going 9 for his previous 53, Robinson Cano is now 5 for last 8.
- Alex Rodriguez did not play. He fouled a ball off his foot last night. No MRI is scheduled. Yet.
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