A Minnesota Miscue Leads to Yanks Victory, 2-1

     A day after once again getting back to .500, the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins squared off in the middle game of the three-game set. Taking the mound for New York was Michael Pineda, with a 3-7 record and a 5.82 ERA. Pineda has really turned his season around, allowing three or fewer runs in his last four starts where the big righty is second in all of baseball with 14% of his pitches are swung at and missed. Receiving the nod for Minnesota was Ervin Santana, who's coming off his best outing against the Yankees where he beat the Bombers for the first time in 13 tries. Overall, Santana is 2-7 with a 4.83 ERA in 2016. And both starters were excellent in this Saturday afternoon pitcher's dual.
     Minnesota was first to light up the scoreboard coming in the top of the second. Brian Dozier improved his hit streak to seven games when he hit a towering shot off of Pineda, giving the Twins a one run lead. Outside of the homerun, Pineda pitched exceptionally well, allowing just two hits through five innings, Ervin Santana held the Yankees in check through the first four by keeping them off the scoreboard, retiring nine consecutive batters at one point.
     Clutch two out hitting was the key in the bottom of the fifth as the Yankees came back to tie the game. The Pinstripers ripped three consecutive two out singles by Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran, with the latter scoring Ellsbury from second and tying the game at one. Santana would be pulled from the game after allowing a leadoff single to Brian McCann in the bottom of the sixth. He left with a final line of 103 pitches during five innings of work, giving up just the one run on six hits while walking and striking out two.
      Even though he was not eligible to win the game, Michael Pineda was brilliant again today, as he left the game with his fifth consecutive quality start. Pineda allowed one run on just two hits while punching out eight and walking just one. And, now that both starters were out of the game, it was definitely advantage New York as they deployed No-Runs DMC. Betances threw just nine pitches and Miller threw twelve pitches as they kept the game tied as they headed into the bottom of the eighth.
      Minnesota recorded three errors in last nights game and it was another error that gave the Yankees the lead and the victory. Twins reliever Ryan Presley allowed singles to Alex Rodriguez and Brian McCann, putting runners on first and third with one out for Starlin Castro. The Yankee second baseman reached base when he smoked a ground ball that errantly got through shortstop Eduardo Escobar that allowed Aaron Hicks(pinch running for ARod) to score, permanently pushing the Yankees ahead, 2-1. Aroldis Chapman did allow the first base runner in two games for No-Runs DMC, but ended the game and put the Yankees back over .500 by striking out Brian Dozier with a 100 mph fastball.
     The Bombers are now 5-1 against Minnesota this season and look to complete the three-game sweep tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for 1:07 PM ET.