NEW YORK -- A beleaguered Twins rotation was dealt another potential blow on Saturday afternoon when right-hander Zebby Matthews departed the game in the fifth inning of Minnesota's 11-4 win over the Yankees with a right foot laceration.
Matthews appeared to be in discomfort when he missed with a first-pitch fastball to Ben Rice. He crouched on the mound, popped back up and then twirled around. That prompted a mound visit from Twins manager Derek Shelton and head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta.
Matthews appeared to fidget with the mound, threw one warmup pitch and remained in the game. But after Matthews issued a walk to Rice, Shelton and Paparesta re-emerged from the dugout to remove him from the game.
The Yankees could not touch Matthews through the first four innings, managing just one hit. But things unraveled in the fifth, when Matthews allowed three walks and a two-run home run to Max Schuemann before suffering the injury.
Ultimately, Matthews was charged with four runs across 4 2/3 innings. He allowed three hits, walked four and threw 79 pitches (45 strikes) -- 32 of which came in the fifth inning.
Of late, the 26-year-old Matthews has become a dependable presence in the Twins’ rotation. He had allowed two runs or fewer while competing at least six innings in each of his past three starts, carrying a 4.15 ERA into Saturday’s game.
Injuries have tested Minnesota’s pitching depth throughout the season. Recent injuries to right-handers Mick Abel and Bailey Ober -- the latter scheduled to make his second rehab start for Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday night -- have pressed rookie Mike Paredes into the rotation. Needless to say, any sort of injury to Matthews would certainly be a further strain.