NEW YORK – In a Fourth of July game between the Yankees and Twins, there were fireworks displayed on the field Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. When it was over, New York came up short, 11-4.
The Yankees found themselves behind the 8-ball from the start. The team recalled right-hander Brendan Beck from Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace left-hander Carlos Rodón, who is on the injured list with left elbow inflammation.
Before the game, manager Aaron Boone talked about how well Beck was pitching in the Minor Leagues, and he was hoping that the right-hander could give the Yankees some length. By the second inning, however, New York was down 5-0 after an RBI double by Byron Buxton and homers by Kody Clemens, Luke Keaschall and Alex Jackson. Beck was out of the game with two outs in the fourth inning.
The Yankees haven’t received a quality start since June 24, when lefty Ryan Weathers pitched six innings and allowed two runs (one earned) against the Tigers. Weathers is starting Sunday’s game against Minnesota.
“[I didn’t] have good results. I put us in a hole early. I made the defense stand there a long time,” said Beck, who was optioned back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after the game. “In the first, I took the crowd out of it. Not the way you want to start the game on an exciting day at the yard. I was able to find rhythm in the end. Ultimately, I have to get that rhythm going starting with the first pitch.”
Left-hander Tim Hill entered in the fourth for New York and allowed a solo homer to Trevor Larnach.
The Yankees made it a game against right-hander Zebby Matthews, who was cruising through the first three innings. After allowing a home run to Jasson Domínguez in the fourth, Matthews allowed three more runs before leaving the game with a right foot injury. Max Schuemann highlighted the scoring for New York with a two-run homer.
Schuemann ended up going 2-for-2 with two walks in the game.
“I put a couple of swings on the ball. I saw the ball well at the plate. Obviously, my role is to come in and make a spark. We came up short today,” Schuemann said.
The Yankees had a chance to at least tie the game in the sixth inning. They loaded the bases with one out against Travis Adams. But the runners were stranded. Adams struck out Amed Rosario, then Taylor Rogers got pinch-hitter Paul Goldschmidt to fly out to Larnach in left to end the threat.
The Yankees ended up going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
“I’m going to take Goldy against the lefty with two outs and the bases loaded. It was a shot to grab the game,” Boone said.
Minnesota added to the lead an inning later. Josh Bell homered off left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, and reliever Camilo Doval struggled once again in the eighth, allowing four unearned runs. Bell highlighted the scoring with his second homer of the game, this one a two-run shot.