Since 2015, including postseason, the Yankees have posted a 30-5 record against the Minnesota Twins in the Bronx, including Monday night's 6-2 Yankees win.
NEW YORK – Rookie Will Warren dialed up one of his best starts Monday night, for which the reeling Yankees were eternally grateful.
But it was still touch-and-go against the wait-‘til-next-year Twins until the late innings, when Minnesota’s bullpen got involved.
Against journeyman ex-Yankee reliever Brooks Kriske in the seventh inning, Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge delivered RBI singles against a drawn-in infield, extending the Yanks’ one-run lead.
By the eighth inning, the Yankees resumed Home Run Derby at the Stadium, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. belted their fourth solo shot of the night, on the way to a 6-2 victory.
At a critical time, the Yankees can count on winning games when they launch homers and when the Twins (23 losses in their last 30 regular season games vs. the Yanks) appear on the schedule, which will happen again in September.
More directly, this is a period where the Yanks – clinging to the last AL wild card – can build back some momentum against clubs that are either mediocre or rebuilding.
Yankees can take advantage of August schedule
Through Aug. 31, the Yankees (63-56) have series against the Cardinals (61-59), Rays (58-62), Nationals (47-71) and White Sox (43-76) after this one with the Twins (56-62), who are at least due to start Joe Ryan in Wednesday’s finale.
In between, there’s a four-game set against the Red Sox (65-55) that will carry a touch of October, with both clubs battling for playoff spots and currently chasing the AL East-leading Blue Jays.
“I know we can be better,’’ Ben Rice said of his Yankees, with a 21-31 mark since June 13.
Warren can be part of that solution, posting a 2.84 ERA over his last seven starts, but also approaching professional highs in innings and starts.
Monday was the latest leap in Warren’s development, lasting 6.2 innings without issuing a walk and yielding just three hits – including solo homers by Byron Buxton and Trevor Larnach.
Warren has reached a trust-your-stuff level, getting seven strikeouts with his mix of four-seamers, sinkers and sweeping sliders.
And even in hitters’ counts, Warren has vowed to stay with an aggressive approach.
“I’m going to let you hit it and let these guys play defense because I do have confidence in my stuff,’’ said Warren, paired with Rice behind the plate.
Ben Rice's potential for increased starts as Yankees' catcher
As Rice mentioned Monday, catcher "is my natural position,'' and he might see more time behind the plate given Austin Wells’ year-long offensive struggles.
Since the All-Star break, Wells is 6-for-51 (.118) with two extra-base hits and a .375 OPS, and he was on the bench Monday with the Twins starting righty Zebby Matthews.
Cody Bellinger homered in the first off Matthews, and Giancarlo Stanton and Rice clubbed consecutive homers against him in the third, providing an early 3-0 lead.
Larnach’s homer ended Warren’s night at 85 pitches, cutting the lead to 3-2, but Luke Weaver and David Bednar finished in drama-free fashion, boosted by the insurance runs.
In a mere-mortal phase entering Monday, Judge was 3-for-15 in five games since coming off the injured list (right flexor strain) and he’s still seeking his first extra-base hit since then.
A larger view had Judge batting .189 (10-for-53) in 16 games with a .699 OPS since July 10, but Monday night’s 1-for-2 with an RBI single, lineout and two walks was encouraging.
But the captain’s DH-only status might continue through at least next week. He increased his throwing to about 120 feet Monday, but there is no public timetable on his return to right field.
Yankees' need for Giancarlo Stanton as a regular presence
That’s where Giancarlo Stanton started for the second time in three days, and Stanton (1-for-2, two RBI, two walks) remains a hot hitter, batting .300 with a 1.034 OPS and nine homers in 24 games since July 6.
Having Stanton in the lineup is imperative, and this is an urgent time in Yankees Universe.
“I think we know it inherently. You feel it around this place all the time,’’ Aaron Boone said of that urgency before the game.
The Yankees manager’s message was to “keep it real simple,’’ winning at-bats and taking care of things defensively – areas of consistency that have eluded this club.
“If we play the way we’re capable of playing, that’ll take care of itself.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: No time like now for a Yankees' momentum shift, starting with a win against the Twins
Category: Baseball
