Game 85 Wrap-Up: NYY 6 MIN 5

(Courtesy of the AP)

Wow, consecutive wins!  I wasn't sure if we'd ever see these again.  As has been tradition for the better part of the last 15 seasons, when the Yankees need to get right there's no team better for them to face than the Minnesota Twins.  They jumped out to an early lead against them yesterday and then held on for dear life to preserve their second victory of this series and get back over .500.

Game Notes:

- It was all Brian Roberts in the first 2 innings.  Hitting from the 2-hole, he doubled home Brett Gardner in the 1st inning and scored on a Teix double in a 3-run frame.  In the 2nd he hit a 2-out double to set up Jacoby Ellsbury's 2-run single in another 3-run inning.

- The Twins would stay close against Chase Whitley.  Brian Dozier homered in the 1st, Chris Collabello in the 2nd, and a single-triple-single trio of at-bats netted them 2 more runs to make it 6-4 after 3.

- Whitley was done after 3 and Joe went to David Huff first.  As he did often when he came in for Phil Hughes last year, Huff threw a very effective (perfect actually) 3 innings to keep the lead at 2 and get the game to the top bullpen guys.

- The Dellin Betances regression continued when he allowed a leadoff single to Kendrys Morales in the 8th, hit a batter, and surrendered a run to pinch runner Eduardo Nunez on an RBI groundout.

- That was as close as the Twins would get.  D-Rob came on in the 9th, struck out the side for what seems like the 10th time this season, and that was all she wrote.  All 6 runs in the first 2 innings and 6 strong innings of relief work.

F*ck Yeahs:

- Roberts: 4-5, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 R, 1 RBI.  Picked a helluva day to have his 1 good game every 10 days.  I bet he earned himself another game or 2 hitting second in the lineup.

- Huff: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.  I think Joe might have found the solution to his Whitley problems.  Pair him up with Huff like he did last year.

Oh Nos:

- Whitley: 3 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.  Needed 75 pitches to record 9 outs.  He's become way too hittable now that he's been around long enough for there to be a scouting report on him.  Like Nuno, the Yanks are stuck with him for now with no replacement starters anywhere to be found.

- Ichiro: 0-4.  Why the hell was he hitting 6th??

Next Up:

Another day game, another crappy pitching matchup.  David Phelps and Yohan Pino will be the starters this afternoon.