On Wednesday evening in the Bronx, the seemingly unthinkable occurred.
The Minnesota Twins defeated the Yankees in a game.
The Yankees’ 4-1 loss on Wednesday was an uncommon lull in their more than two decades of domination in head-to-head play. It ended the Yankees’ nine-game winning run against Minnesota and reduced their record against the Twins since 2002 to 125-45.
The Yankees rookie Cam Schlittler pitched five solid innings after rain caused the game to start an hour and fifty-two minutes later than scheduled.
However, as soon as he left the game to start the sixth, the Twins took the lead.
When Schlittler, who had thrown 86 pitches, was relieved by reliever Yerry De los Santos, the score was tied at one.
By gloving a hotshot to shortstop, Anthony Volpe almost gave Byron Buxton a leadoff single, but Ben Rice, the first baseman, was unable to catch Volpe’s throw.
Kody Clemens hit a double into the right-center gap to score both baserunners, and Luke Keaschall followed with a slow-rolling infield single down the third-base line.
On that play, center fielder Trent Grisham made a fielding error that allowed Clemens, the son of Roger Clemens, to move to third. The Twins took a 4-1 lead after Clemens was scored two batters later by Royce Lewis, who hit an RBI bloop double off Mark Leiter Jr. into left field.
Schlittler needed 53 pitches to complete his final two frames, although he only allowed two singles and two walks to the Twins. When manager Aaron Boone pulled Schlittler, the Twins’ order was about to come up for the third time.
De los Santos had a 1.57 ERA going into the game, but he ended up with a 2.51 ERA after giving up three runs without recording an out.
Schlittler put up a good fight, striking out six in his five innings of one-run ball, but the loss marred everything.
Schlittler removed the Twins’ first nine batters in just 33 pitches, mostly using a fastball that he ramped up to 100 mph.
However, Minnesota forced Schlittler to work in the fourth inning when Byron Buxton doubled on the tenth pitch of the at-bat after Trevor Larnach took a leadoff walk.
After Austin Martin singled to start Tuesday’s game, Buxton’s double was the Twins’ first hit. In between hits, the Twins produced 36 outs, or 12 innings.
After limiting the Twins to an RBI groundout by Keaschall that tied the game at one, Schlittler threw a scoreless fifth to end the damage.
Schlittler, 24, allowed fewer than two runs for the first time in six career starts. His ERA dropped to 3.94 after he gave up two hits and two walks.
Before Wednesday’s game, Boone stated, “I don’t think he has to learn that he can get these guys out.” I guess he thinks he can and knows. I’ve witnessed a rather fearless guy who becomes a little irritated when he doesn’t perform to his standards. However, I believe we need him and that it’s been a solid start thus far.
Meanwhile, Twins ace Joe Ryan generally suppressed the Yankees’ attack, striking out seven and limiting them to one run, a single homer by Cody Bellinger in the third inning, over 6.2 innings.
The Twins had an unprecedented fire sale prior to last month’s trade deadline, sending away ten major league players, including their bullpen and star infielder Carlos Correa.
However, they managed to hold onto Ryan, who on Wednesday went up to 12-5 with a 2.72 ERA.
Ryan was replaced with a runner on third by left-hander Kody Funderburk with two outs in the seventh. However, Austin Wells, who swings left, was called out on strikes, and Paul Goldschmidt, who is hitting.404 with a 1.191 OPS versus left-handers, did not enter as a pinch hitter.
The Yankees (64-57) trounced the Twins (57-63) handily on Monday and Tuesday night, but the setback prevented them from sweeping the series. With those victories, the Yankees won their first series since they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays three games to one in the Bronx late last month.
The Cleveland Guardians’ defeat to the Miami Marlins on Wednesday completed the Yankees’ 3-3 homestand, and they kept their one-game lead for the third and final American League wild card place.
The Yankees will open a five-game road trip against the Cardinals in St. Louis on Friday night after taking Thursday off.
