MINNEAPOLIS -- The Yankees weren't able to finish off a four-game series sweep of the Twins on Sunday, absorbing a 7-4 loss at Target Field, but Brian McCann gave them about 870 feet of positive signs from the batter's box.
McCann smashed out of a 0-for-15 skid by launching a solo home run off Ervin Santana in the second inning, then mashed another long ball in the ninth off Brandon Kintzler as part of a three-hit afternoon.
"I was getting through the baseball instead of those weak ground balls to the second baseman," McCann said. "I was getting through the baseball and I was able to drive it."
It has been a quiet month for McCann, who entered play on Sunday batting just .108 (8-for-74) over his previous 24 games and has seen his playing time dip with backup Austin Romine picking up duty against left-handed pitching.
McCann said the issue had not been pitch selection, but more that he seemed to be cutting off his swing, something he has been working on with hitting coach Alan Cockrell.
That didn't seem to a problem on Sunday; the first homer was estimated at 439 feet, the second at 435 feet, and he also laced a hard single to right off Santana in the seventh inning.
"He hit three balls right on the button today, so hopefully that gets him going," manager Joe Girardi said.
It was McCann's first multi-homer game of the season and the 12th of his career, having last done it on Sept. 21, 2014, against the Blue Jays. He hadn't homered since hitting his eighth of the year on June 6 against the Angels, and hopes Sunday's effort will propel him back to his expected levels of production.
"I've been grinding for a long time now, and I haven't been getting any results," McCann said. "It was nice to put the barrel on some balls today."