 We are under the lights as the show gets you ready for another edition of Major League Baseball ought to be a good one here between the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees. It's Yankees baseball and it comes your way next. James Paxton, the left-handed Canadian gets the starting assignment here. Dan, any thoughts? If you want to pick up a win as a starting pitcher you have to go five innings to get the win and that's just what he did the last one. I'm sure he'd like to be out there for a little bit longer in this one. Now at the plate, Luis Arias and we are set for baseball here this evening. First delivery to him on the way. A little tardy there, no balls and a strike. And as the Yankees get started here tonight guys, they come into this one looking to make amends for a loss last time out that put an end to a seven-game winning streak. Yeah, Maddie taking a look at the standings right here. This team has a nice lead, comfortable. You always want to find yourself in a position where you're about five to nine games, got the advantage. You know, one series isn't going to totally kill you in the standings and this team is sitting pretty right now. And this is swung on and missed on a great pitch that time and the leadoff man is down on strikes to get this one started. So that'll bring in Byron Buxton, the head-to-head with James Paxton. He's gone three for eight. Ready to deliver, here's the first pitch. Breaking ball that time that misses out of the zone. According to the career numbers on the back of his baseball card, Buxton is a batting line residing in the 230s. You know, Maddie, I know his career batten average jumps off at the page but this guy can help the roster in a lot of different ways. He brings value to the manager on a daily basis. Now the 2-0. Paxton has made a name for himself as a starter that simply misses the barrel of the bat. He rarely allows a large number of hits and he does a pretty good job at keeping the ball in the ballpark when the hitters do make contact. Buxton ahead in the count, three balls and a strike. Not a bad night to bring the park along 54 degrees at game time. The three and one pitch. Swing and a ball hit to the left side and this is going to wind up a souvenir. And he lays off here ball four and he'll become the game's first base runner here with one away. And that's the beauty of having a guy in the two hole like him. He's almost like another leadoff hitter working a walk with just one out. I think there's a good chance that he's going to be on the move at some point. And that'll bring up the big stick of Nelson Cruz. He drove in one of their two runs in last night's ball game. He's set and the pitch. And set up behind the dishes. Gary Simmons as you see the rest of our umpire and crew there. You know Dero Gary Simmons he's one of those umpires. He'll give you one thing or the other. At times his zone can be a little wider than he's a little more strict north and south but he's a pretty consistent umpire. The key Dan is be consistent. You want to give me inside half. I'm OK with that but then you can't give him away. If you're going to stay east west you better pick one side. They've got him picked off. And they got him at second base on a good smart play that time. Liner toward right center that gets down and he's got himself a base hit. Boy Dero the game of baseball has changed there's so much velocity in the game. That was a 96 mile an hour fastball that he smoked the other way. Yeah you have to keep your front shoulder tucked right there. You have to honor when a guy's throwing that hard 96 miles an hour you have to honor that fastball and try and work it the other way to keep you on the off speed. This one's outside quite a bit off the plate that time. He takes his first cuts in this one with a man at first and two away deep to left center field looking up his Gardner and it's gone. Two runs on the board after that home run by Miguel Sineau number 11 for him on the season as the twins have taken a two to nothing lead. Love the homer in the top of the first inning. Give your pitcher a chance to kind of regroup and gather himself with an early lead. The plate now. Mitch Garver the catcher the first pitch misses to him. It's ball one. Garver is looking like a near lock at this point to make the All-Star game this year. He's currently the leading vote getter in the league at catcher. Yeah Matty not surprised this guy is on the top of the All-Star game voting but you have to take a step back. This is being voted on and the play is made here to end the inning. But two run score for the twins both coming on this two run home run bottom of the first coming up. It's now to nothing Minnesota. Jose Barrios the right hander out of Puerto Rico will be the starter. Dan please act. What do you got. Hey Matt thanks coming on Jose Barrios and this guy has all the tools to be a great one. Great velocity with life 94 to 97 miles an hour power slider and it's a big sweeper. It's change up is getting better. If this guy brings all three pitches one of these days he has the potential to throw a no hitter. Here comes Brett Gardner now as he'll lead things off in the home first and he gets ahead here with the fastball strike one and guys as we take a look at the twins at the start of play here tonight got to be considered one of if not the hottest team in baseball right now winners of eight of their last 10 ball games. Yeah Matty taking a look at the standings right here. This team has a nice lead comfortable. You always want to find yourself in a position where you're about five to nine games got the advantage. You know one series isn't going to totally kill you in the standings in this team. This team's sitting pretty right now. The two one now a swing and a ball foul tipped right off our home plate umpire and with no time to react that is tough duty back there. Let's hope he's OK set to deal on two and two and this is swung on and missed as gardeners as strikeout victim one away. Yeah as they say there's a hole in his swing in that location. That's so a good job. They're exploiting that. That can be real hard for some guys to overcome. Maybe you start figuring out what locations you just can't handle. Here's the second baseman D.J. LeMayhew looks at a fastball that's in there for strike one that batting average hovering in the high two thirties two home runs and 16 RBI's the 0 1 and this catches the zone as well. It's 0 and 2 now 1 and 2 to D.J. LeMayhew. Well there's the classic 0 2 wasted fastball not even close to the zone. We'll see what he throws on the next pitch bases are empty one man out seared down the first baseline but this is a foul ball as the count holds steady at 1 and 2 looking for back to back case to start the game again he sends it out of play. Here's another one to neither guy willing to give in and the at battle continue the bouncer to the left side Gonzalez is up with it on the first and there were two down batting third the designated hitter Miguel and do hard and that'll bring up Miguel and do hard. No one aboard for him and two gone here in the first. Now here it comes on do hard takes his swings from the right handed batter's box but he's one of those rare hitters that actually thrives facing same handed pitching one of the very best in the game as a matter of fact in that type of matchup. Yeah Matty he does not leak with that frontside he keeps that shoulder tucked stays inside the baseball and it gives him every opportunity to hammer the fastball and stay on that breaking stuff. Here's the one in one pitch swing and a miss on the slur that time it's one and two interesting pitch selection right there in off the plate not too many pitchers in the game want to go in there and risk hitting the guy and letting him get on first base free of charge. We ground her down the first baseline foul. I love the fact that the hitter was able to foul that pitch away. I always thought with two strikes you give the pitcher that inside part of the plate and you do your best to cover away. Try again one to miss this ball too. Hey this guy's a hard guy to put away. He's followed off some tough pitches to count and he just seems to keep hanging right in there and a slur but this is in the dirt for a ball. He's definitely going to want to get greedy in his own and he's obviously seeing the ball well or he would have swung at that pitch sometimes in these long epic at bats you start to get into swing mode. Now the three and two pitch you know taking you inside the mind of a batter right here you can't get an auto swing mode you still have to control the strike zone. This is on the ground over the first dive and he knocks it down and the recovery will not be in time at first and the inning will continue following the field single. The right field and digging into the batter's box next will be Giancarlo Stanton behind on that one now behind in the count 0 and 1. He takes his first cuts in this one with a man at first and two away tying run at the plate the 0 1 grounded back up the middle. Gonzalez to his left he's there pro on the second for the force in the side is retired one left for the Yankees they're down two to nothing winning set to get underway Max Kepler the next to grab a bat and he's got that batting lineup near the 300 mark entering play. One of the keys to securing a win they want to keep the pressure on and try to build that lead as much as they can moving into the later innings and a high strike to begin the at bat it's 0 and 1 a swinging strike and now it's 0 and 2 this pitch is bringing it with some high veto. You better get that front foot down early and get ready or he's going to throw it right by you. Now the 0 2 pitch and I went to he misses with a fastball tough curveball that time but he's able to make a little contact to keep this at bat going another 1 2 delivery now a fastball but that's easy to lay off and it's back to even a 2 and 2. This is a fun guy to watch when he's up there really battles doesn't take any pitches all these a grinder always seems to make it difficult on the opposing pitcher still hanging with him another good swing to keep it going look like he was cheating a heater right there a little bit too far out in front got to find a way to keep his hands back and another foul ball full count to Max Kepler three balls and two strikes he walked a guy back in the first and now he's looking like he might hand out another free pass to the lead off guy here. You can't be walking a guy in inning and think you're going to have any success. I finally wears him down here as he strikes him out after a nine pitch at bat the next went up Eddie Rosario couple of hits for him in four trips to the plate last night in field shifted well to the right here's the first pitch one out nobody on can't get around quick enough and that'll move the count to one and one up and in on the hands it's two balls and a strike as a veteran out on the mound that's a pitch that you expect to get a call on got to believe he keeps pounding that spot until he builds a rapport with the umpire. Now the two one left side but well foul bases are empty one man out he'll hang in here as he reaches to file this one away. The two two right side defense aligned perfectly in time to first and there are two away batting in the third base number twenty four. Josh Donaldson. Josh Donaldson digging in now as we take a look at the splits between April and May infield in the over shift here now the pitch. This is it high and deep out to left left fielder looking up it's a solo shot off the bat of Josh Donaldson number eleven for him on the season as the twins have made it a three to nothing ball game. There are certain guys in every lineup that you do not want to beat you. And this guy right now is swinging the bat so well I'm not giving him a chance to do anything. He's too hot right now. Marwan Gonzalez now the short shot as the first pitch to him is off the plate for a ball one or no. He'll work on keeping this top of the second alive. That evens it up one and one here it comes and he gets him to pop it up on the right side of the infield void put this one away and the side is retired with the twins at on thanks to this solo shot will go to the bottom of the second. It's now three nothing in favor of the twins out of the plate. Geo or shella he comes in as a player to watch out for hitting well over 300 on the season. Hey we're still in the early stages and this one only down by a couple of runs but it's really key for this lead up guy to try to get on and get a big inning started. First pitch coming here it is well love the early lead but this game is far from over. Got to stay on top of what you're trying to do out there and execute pitches ball in a strike got a pitch to the ballpark's dimensions right here. Love the execution of that pitch down in his own got to keep the ball in the yard and he'll come back with one in the dirt as the count moves to two and one now into the corner and slicing foul two to Gary Sanchez waits on deck the three and two pitch is swung on and missed he got him on strikes talk about blowing it by a guy. Geez I mean that fastball was way behind him when the swing came through the zone. I have to think he was looking for something off speed and he just couldn't pull the trigger on that fastball. The box now Gary Sanchez as with one away he can't make contact on the first pitch it's strike one on out nobody on lifted out towards straight away center field Buxton is there now and he has it to God batting seven and that will bring up Tyler Wade. He went hitless last night in a game where his guys could push across only one score ready with the first pitch here it comes one oh you have to be careful you can't sleep on the butt right here even with two outs they're playing him back but this guy can handle the bat like the fastball got away from him there it's ball two pretty easy takes to start out this at bat none of those pitches were even close to the strike zone three and oh now and the pitch there's a strike with the fastball as he gets back in the count at three and one fouled away two out nobody on hit to short Gonzalez is there in a close play at first but he's called out of the side is retired so the Yanks go one two three they trail in this one three nothing all set for the start of the inning stepping in when we saw Reyes if that is a strikeout victim to open up the ball game. All right. Ready with the first pitch here it comes. He'll start in here with a change up but it's taken for ball one popped him up when did make the play in foul territory for the first out the batter the center fielding Byron. Another chance Byron Buxton he drew a base on balls his first time up now here it comes count one and oh the one oh that's a pitch he'd like to have back you're not going to see very many pitches like that from a pitcher of this quality. I'm sure he'd like to have that one back to take a swing at it. The one one home Mrs. Ball to he's really given some leeway on the outside edge here two and two now he fouls this one off bases are empty one man out. This is it high in the air out toward left center after it is Gardner and he tracks it down a nice running play to record the second half up next for Minnesota. The right field. Nelson. Here's Nelson Cruz now first pitch of the at bat. Well that's why Cruz or the boomstick as he's appropriately nicknamed he's currently on a one year deal so he stands to be a free agent at the end of this season. Hey this guy's been an absolute solid player his entire big league career and I expect him to have a ton of suitors come this off season. Man the batter's eyes lit up right there a hanger just a little bit out in front couldn't keep it fair. No offer on that one two balls in a strike. You know what I'm seeing here is a reluctance to throw the fastball. It's like he feels he can't throw the ball right by him right now. And that pitch comes over to catch the corner. It's two and two now. Of course there was a fastball even at two balls and two strikes. Here's the pitch tried to get him with the cutter but it's a full count three and two count is full. Here's the pitch swung on and lifted in the air to left center after it is Gardner he's there to make the play and that'll retire the side down go the twins in order but they're on top by a count of three to nothing. Back as the Yankees prepare for their third turn through the order. Fans of the Bronx bombers have been treated to quite a bit of production from this lineup so far this year. Within the league they rank among the leaders in batting average on base percentage and slugging. When asked about their offense the players I talked with all brought up how multifaceted their talent is saying they've got guys that can spray the ball around guys that work counts and draw walks and of course plenty of guys that can go deep and drive in runs. Their numbers certainly confirm that guys. Leading off. All right. Thanks Heidi. The first base man. Look boy. First delivery to him on the way. The fastball here is he'll take a look at ball one one and all pitch on the way fastball taken but that gets the zone for a strike. One of the best ways to keep a guy uncomfortable is to pound him inside. They're doing that and this one caught the zone. One one. Take a step back right here after three fastballs in a row there is no chance he throws you a fourth. The one two need chased it in the dirt and he makes the throw to first. Voight is retired and there's one away. Well you know you made a real nice pitch. Don't let bounce it in the dirt and you still get the hitter to swing at it. That tells me that there's a lot of deception in that pitch right now. Striding into the box. Mike Tuckman. First pitch coming here it is at the ball one out nobody on. This is on the ground over to first flag down deep in the hole and an off balance throw is in time as he takes one away. Wow. I'm off into the hole right there. That's not an easy play but these guys make it look that way sometimes back to the top of the order now and up next the left handed hitting Brett Gardner first offering on its way off speed pitch gets the outside it's a cold strike while he's following the code not to miss down and into a lefty everything on the outer half of the plate fouled away three comes on a ball and two strikes now a fastball but that's easy to lay off and it's back to even a two and two fouled off look out don't want to hit him there. It's full three and two and that one's taken outside for a ball to walk him. So no one two three inning here they've got themselves a two out base runner now batting second baseman DJ and that sends DJ to make you into the box. He's over one after grounding out in his only trip to the plate so far at the deliver here's the first pitch pitches a cold strike the throw and he is out at second caught stealing to end the inning another look at the throw down that results in a third out on the bases. The three of us return with more Wednesday night baseball after this start of the fourth upcoming but first Heidi Watney is standing by with a report thanks Matt in between innings I was able to catch up with the manager of the twins to discuss his thoughts on Minnesota's lineup so far and overall he's really happy with the app that's they're putting together. They've been able to push across three runs to this point but they've also made the opposition work extremely hard. He's thrown a lot of pitches and they think they're going to have a good opportunity to push across a lot more runs as he tires or as they get into that bullpen. Thank you Heidi. All set for the start of the fourth ready to take his axe again. Miguel Sano as he'll look to follow up the two round homer relaunched over the wall last time up. Here comes the first pitch and the last ball called for strike one. I guess the game plan from the offensive standpoint today coming into this one was they were going to work to counts they've been super patient at the plate in the early goings of this game and they've got the lead looking for more outside for a ball one and one swing and a shot hit down the corner nearly a big fly to start the inning instead of foul ball the one to strike three on a pitch in the dirt the first Sano is retired and there's one away stepping in and ready for another shot. Mitch Garver 0 for 1 for him here in this one outfield shaded a bit to left center the first pitch a ball and no strikes three runs three hits and no errors in the ball game for Minnesota. That one bends into the zone a strike on the breaking ball little tardy on that swing as it's well wide at first you can definitely tell what that foul off right there that he's picking up spin on this pitchers off speed stuff. Maybe expect a fastball on this next one. Well above the letters with the fastball that time that's a good take on a fastball out of the zone. Hey I get it. He's looking for a ball to drive but that ball was a little bit too far up in his own. That's one you normally pop right up. So it was a strikeout swinging. Mitch Garver sent packing for the second out of the first inning. Kepler now Max Kepler as he takes a fastball off the plate for a ball one and all Kepler is playing first base today even though he's typically thought of as an outfielder that's inside to an own free and oh now right now. Now with the bases empty I think he needs to be careful not to just groove one here just because it's three and oh he's a guy that could ambush you and lose one over the wall. Bottom part of the zone a ball gets the call got to believe he had the green light in that situation two outs 3 0 count. This guy can certainly handle the bat. That's a perfect situation to let him lose. There's a swing and a drive and everybody's just going to sit back and watch that one fly a no doubt home run a solo shot here to straight away right field home run number nine on the year as the twins are looking good here up four to nothing. This has been a rough one for this guy so far. That's the third homer he's allowed today. He better start keeping the ball down in the strike zone or that total might continue to rise. In now Eddie Rosario. He'll take a look at a high strike that time. It's nothing in one comes into this at bat 0 for one in the ball game. No swing on the knuckle curve even at one and one. If you're going to have success against some of the better hitters in the game you've got to get that pitch right there. Oh to. He's almost certainly out one one. He's got a chance to really do some damage. Four runs four hits and no errors in the ball game for Minnesota. Now it changed up but it misses just a little below the zone. Looks like this guy's afraid to throw the ball in the strike zone gave up that home run earlier in the inning. You get back to being aggressive. Two balls and two strikes now for the gap in right center. This is going to be a base hit and he may take that big turn at first. And he's able to hustle his way up the second as he'll reach here with a two base hit. Everyone knows that this guy's numbers are not where he wants them to be so far this year. But you never know by that swing. He looked fluid and confident driving that pitch for a double we'll see if that gets him going a bit. And a second here with two away. And here's Donaldson. And that last at that when he went deep he turned around a pretty good fastball. So I'm kind of thinking this guy's a good fastball hitter. So I might want to move that ball up and down and in and out and try not to throw it right down the middle of the plate. First offering on its way weighing inside with that one a pretty easy take there. Two balls and no strikes. I wonder if that homer rattled them a little bit. He's certainly a little bit more cautious against him this time around over the outside half and it's two and one and some action out in the Yankee bullpen now as a right hander starts to loosen up. He's set and the two one pitch for the guy in the mound. This is one of those innings where nothing comes easy. He's throwing a bunch of pitches and this A B hasn't been any different. Definitely laboring at the moment. Rosario at second with two down and a good fastball swung on and missed per strike three and the inning is over. But the twins add on thanks to this solo shot. Bottom of the fourth coming up and the twins have taken a four nothing lead. DJ LeMay here. He's got one thus far. Lots of baseball left in this one is still early on. But you don't want to fall too far behind. They're already down by a bundle and one of the things you want your leadoff guy to get on and set the table for the big boys to start driving in some runs. Now a change up in on the hands that evens it at one and one low two balls in a strike count even at two and two and it's fouled away and he gets him to pop it up on the right side of the infield. And there's your first down to the inning up next to the ankle. The designated hitter be down and do hard so the bases are empty with one man gone and striding into the plate. It'll be Miguel and do hard first pitch of the at bat on its way changed up on him and dropped it in for a cold strike. Hey this isn't exactly the way you'd like to draw it but he's doing a lot of first pitch strikes. But the bottom line is he's getting outs hitting the air down the right field line. But this is going to wind up a foul ball. There's the 0 and 2 and it's one and two hit down the line at first and that's a fair ball as it's through into right field. You don't see that too much in today's game. Most guys it doesn't matter what the count is they're looking at a line of right field drive the ball out of the ballpark not the case here. He's got a lot of pressure ground ball through a hole for a single Giancarlo Stanton now he swings and hits it foul off to the right and out of play sent on the ground out to second and Stanton's aboard. It's a base hit throw into third and he'll make it over to third base safely. So that puts runners at the corners with only one gone number. This is their time right here this starting pitcher has been on point all day runs have been at a premium. They have an opportunity to do that. That'll bring in Giovanni Urchella as the first pitch to him is in there for a called strike one Urchella 28 years old. He's a five year vet at the Major League level field. That's a base hit and the runner from third scores as they try to work their way back into this one. They were in the middle of this one already. They finally score run and they've had a tough time scoring some runs. Yeah. After taking it on a chin yesterday it's nice to finally break through. Maybe this gives the confidence it needs to the plate now. Gary Sanchez as he'll take a look at a strike on the outside corner it's 0 and 1 just a bit late and he's falling behind 0 and 2 first and second now one man out 1 and 2 to the Yankees catcher fouls this one off he's set and the 1 2 pitch takes this the other way to right and he can't come up with a runner from second crosses the plate. Now that time is called here as their pitching coach is going to pay a quick visit to the mound to discuss how they want to attack things here to the box. Tyler Wade as he takes a cold strike at the knees it's 0 and 1 and he's got runners at the corners here with only one gun. Now the 0 1 here's a breaking ball but it doesn't quite find the strike zone 1 and 2. Now is that one's fouled off hits or even right now at 5 aside struck him out and now they'll likely need a base hit to get that runner home from third got him with a good high fastball there. Danny we see a lot of that pitch in strikeout situations these days. What makes it so effective. I think Matt would makes it such a tough pitch as you're changing eye levels that fastball up looks so enticing to hit that you think you see that ball as a hitter do you think you can drive it but it's really hard to get on top of that good high hard fastball. This is taken outside for strike at the knees one and one two balls in a strike to the Yankees first baseman a time to start making some quality pitches. He finds himself in a tough spot behind an account with guys on base. The 2 1 his pitch count is getting up there in the inning now. He needs to get this frame over what sooner than later so forcing contact and getting the defense involved is probably the best thing he can do. And Paul that should have been there before there but it's a called strike and that runs things full at three and two and he misses with it for ball four so the bases will be loaded now with two away. What's the saying when you find yourself in a hole the first thing you should do is stop digging. Well the guy in the bump obviously hasn't heard that one. So stepping in Mike Tuckman as he'll look to bring home that tying run from second with the base hit into the outfield. Here's the first pitch to him lifted down the line in the middle left and that will end up a foul ball two out bases loaded. No. And this is downstairs for the ball one and one. Clearly this is a tough situation to be on the mound but the key here is minimizing their up by two. So if he could find a way to get out of this bases loaded jam by only giving up one run that would be clutch a ball and two strikes now the set and the one two hit on the ground toward the left. Look at Donaldson. How about that. So they do strike for two but it could have been much worse as they strand the bases loaded we played four full. It's the twins four and the Yankees two up with the fifth in now. Marwan Gonzalez over one after a pop out in foul territory is first time through. Yeah Matt he's got to make an adjustment right here. His swing definitely broke down dropped his back shoulder and thus the result was a terrible pop up. Fastball in there for a called strike. Well he's still out there to start the fifth inning but it's been a real grind of a start for him. The pitch count is much higher than he'd like it to be. So it's hard to imagine him working really deep into this game. And there's a fastball well off the plate inside to one and two now. Now here it comes fouled away again a one two still a ball and two strikes. Hey having a B right here. I know it's frustrating the heck out of the pitcher. You keep fouling these pitches off. Maybe one misses over the heart of the plate. And he wasn't going to hit that one with an or the strikeout and there's one gone that strikeout was a real good example of a pattern of continuing to make a guy chase out of the zone. When you recognize a hitters in protect mode you don't have to come inside the strike zone. You could just expand further and further until he literally can't touch it at the plate now Luis Arias as the first pitch to him's a change up that can't find the zone. It's ball one against left handed pitching so far this season Arias is a batting line residing in the two thirties. He beat it first to tell you he's not happy with his bat and average this season but he can beach in a variety of different ways and he has to because he wouldn't be here otherwise the two on the way. He's fallen behind now three and one. I'm sure he's frustrated by that call. Probably could have been a strike but at the same time earning strikes from the umpire is a real thing. If you've been all over the place like he has you're just not going to get much help from the umpires. Gartner on the move. He's got it. A nice play there. Two away. The center fielder number twenty five Byron Buxton here's Byron Buxton. Now it was a flyout for him in his last trip. Here comes the first pitch. Two out lightning definitely applies to this offense. If this two hole hitter can get on they could start something serious and chased out of his own there and he's down two strikes. The count doesn't mean much to this batter he's all in he's not concerned with striking out so he's going to get his a swing off. Inside and high with that one one ball two strikes four to our score here as we play any number five and it lay off the curveball that's in the dirt that time and it's back to even now at two and two down the left field line and deep and this will wind up a foul ball we ground her down the line at third and a bit of a high throw that time but no problem over there at first as they record the out twins are set down one two three but they still lead this one four to two. Welcome back to the Bronx as we check in with Heidi. Thanks Matt. I talked with the Yankees manager Aaron Boone during the break about the team's offensive performance so far and flat out he was very pleased with the quality of their at bats. He said the high pitch count they've run up is a result of a lot of great battles at the plate by his guys and he's not wrong so far they've worked five full counts in their at bats. All right Heidi thank you stepping into the box. Gardner passed the halfway point in this one and began the bottom of the fifth. Things not looking very good so far in this one but we're still in the middle innings they're down by a couple of runs and this would be the right place in the right time to get something going. The last thing they want to do is to try to come from behind it and win this one in the eighth or ninth inning. Pitch taken several inches below the zone in fact two balls in a strike down to the Yankees lead off man. Now some action out in the Minnesota pen as it looks like both a lefty and a right hander are up to throw into the wind up. Here's the two and one pitch. That's Walter. Good job to work the count and put himself back in the driver's seat started off with one strike and now he's got to count his favorite three and one hitters count all the way here it comes. There's a well hit ball out to right center field Brown first here's Gardner on his way to second and he'll pull into second here with nobody out. You could tell he was thinking fastball all the way here and that's exactly what he got. He was able to get the bat out front and pull it into the gap in the right center. Now they're set up pretty nicely for a good inning after that lead off double. Now to the plate. DJ the Mayhew as he lays off a fastball too low for ball one. No one out with a runner at second hops this one up Kepler ranging into the outfield. He can't get to it. This one's down and they'll put the brakes on at third runners at the corners with nobody out. Now this has to be a pretty big big role lead off double base and all of a sudden we're looking at first and third. Yes sometimes you wake up you just get smacked in the mouth right here. He's going to have to start executing pitches. He cannot leave a ball over the heart of the plate right here. He's going to have damage on his hands. Now the pitch outside with that slurp of his one ball no strikes ball in a strike off the fastball low and it goes to two balls in a strike. The dip like the fastball got away from him there and he continues to labor here coming up on a hundred pitches in just the fifth inning. Boy D row this is a spot right now if you're an offense you start licking your chop pitch count starting to get up into the fifth inning they could be sitting on some big knocks right here. Yeah absolutely. Then you're looking for something middle of the plate right here. He doesn't have a great feel for his breaking stuff. Maybe he hangs some now that right. He'll certainly look like they might have had a big getting cooking there. Third and no outs. But the double play kind of kills it. They did get the run in but the batter doesn't get credit for an RBI. So base is empty now after the double play and standing in the outfielder Jean-Carlo Stanton first pitch of the at bat on its way skied into straight away right right fielder giving chase. He can't get there so the inning will continue and he will pull in the second with a two out double. Well they were having their troubles with his heater early but not this time. After a while the good hitting team is going to start catching up on that hard stuff. You can see that he tracks this thing all the way and just rips it to the wall. He's in the second with a double. Geo or Shella. He'll take a look at ball one and hit in two tries for him so far to hold the lead. Here's the delivery swing and a liner foul. It's going to be back to some serious teamwork if he can't put that pitch in play right in his wheelhouse. Off again and now he's in a one and two hole ball in two strikes. Hold high in the air out to left field. Rosario is there. He's got it to end the inning as they'll strand the time run and scoring position Yankees forced to settle for one. We're through five here at the ballpark. It's the twins four and the Yankees three. Your assistant takes over to start the sixth inning on the mound. Number eighty five. Louis. After the sixth about to get started settling in now. Nelson. It was a fly out for him in his last trip. He's ready. Here's the first offering power in a fastball that time at ninety four for strike one. Hey there aren't too many power hitters in the game that would let that pitch go by. That's in there. And he's deep in the hole now one two. You know it's great to be patient. Make a pitcher work and all that stuff to try to get walks but you have to be ready to hit. And that was a really hittable pitch. And now you've got to deal with it. Oh to count the one two sent on the ground but right into the shift throw to first gets him. So the leadoff man's retired here to begin the sixth. Now that is the designated hitter Miguel Sino will stand in here. But before he does let's take you back to the very first inning. This was a two run homerun right out of the gate that really got these guys off to a fast start. Nope. And he lays off there one and oh. And it looks like the Yankees will have a left hander up and throwing in the bullpen for three our score here as we play any number six. This is foul right side. And it's fouled away. The one that's in the game and it's fouled away. The one to is swung on and misty got him really good late bite on that slider right there. The best ones have that late action that just darts at the last minute. They're so tough to get the bat on. And when you've got that good slider going it's a great strikeout pitch now Mitch Garver. And so watch a slider that runs out of the strike zone away for ball one. The only thing that's missing is two at bats so far hit sharply on the ground a diving effort here as he gets a glove on it and the recovery will not be in time at first and the ending will continue following the infield single. Nice effort by the shortstop right there kept it in front of them. That's all he could do right there. Dan you know you're in a spot like that. That's an infield single that's a tough play just to knock that ball down was a pretty good job but any way you look at it that should be a base hit and I'm sure it was. Oh and one count and the pitch set up away with the change up but it's one and one one and two as he chases the slider that front door slider is a devastating pitch by the time you realize it's in the zone it's too late and you can't even put a good swing on it. One to offering looked like a slider that time but it's two and two. Don't be surprised if he gets another back foot slider right here. Don't think for a second just because he took the first one that this pitcher won't come back exactly the same way. Here now the two two is laid off and the count runs full good spot for an RBI put the ball in play with the runner in motion. He could score all the way from first payoff pitch home ripped down the first base line but this will get foul so they'll do it again three and two and the payoff pitch and that misses ball four so it's first and second now with two out. He did not want to let the hitter off the hook with two outs and now he's got a runner in scoring position to deal with the Rosario for another shot now Eddie Rosario a hidden two at bats for him at this point in the ballgame looking to keep this one run game the pitch below the knees one ball no strikes two down runners at first and second now a fastball for a called strike it's one and one one of my favorite pitches in the game right there the old Greg Maddox equalizer started at the front hip and bring it back and he pops him up drifting toward the left side of the infield and the two out threat will not come to pass as the inning is over twin strand of pair then it remains a four three game Devon Smeltzer enters to do the pitching in the bottom of the sixth number thirty one Devon Smeltzer next for New York Gary Sanchez leading off fly out and a single for him so far Gary Ken Ken first pitch of the at bat in her third let go it's a called strike couple of righties starting to loosen now in the bullpen the wind up and the oh one now a good pitch around the knees but it doesn't quite catch the bottom of the zone and hey guys this he's not known for being a single center right here but that's a second knock at the game and I'm sure he'll take him but the guys on the other side of the scorecard might be thinking we really avoided a worse thing in now Tyler Wayne as the first pitch years have been high it's ball one for two for him to this point is going to be a sacrifice attempt as he gets it down Gonzalez for one he'll put this in his pocket now the battle the first baseman stepping up to the plate look boy it was a walk in his last trip pitch coming here it is hit hard on the ground a third to second for one on the first as they get the double play to get him out of the inning around the horn they go five to four to three to end the threat on to the back third tonight stick around on the show Ben Heller will come out and take the ball here as he'll be making his fifteenth appearance of the year number sixty four Ben Heller standing in Josh Donaldson perhaps he can drive another one out of the park just like he did back in the second Josh delivery to him on the way into right field that's a base head no mistake what he was sitting on looking at red piece of cheese middle of the plate and he didn't miss it the box now Marwan Gonzalez and she'll take a look at a slider here that misses for ball one we're in the seventh inning now before three ball game ball in a strike hit the target but this is low two and one has a look now the pitch to two and two now two and one deals swing and a liner but this is pulled in by the shortstop the batter number two second base Louis so the lineup flips over and digging in Luis Arias it was a fly out for him in his last trip on the stretch here's the pitch the one oh finds the zone strike one two and one now to the man boy that's one of the toughest pitches to lay off a hard breaking ball at the back foot tough take on a terrific pitch this one's outside quite a bit off the plate that time every base runner in a close game like this really matters so you can't afford to be giving out free passes this late three one full count three and two working for the punch out and the offering pulls this one into the air out into right field and there's outnumber two is this is taken in shy of the track and the runner will have to retreat up next for Minnesota the center fielder Byron Buxton digging in Byron Buxton he was a ground out victim last time up yeah I understand that Matty but this guy's got burner wheels down the first base line I don't think he even concerns himself with that he thinks that's part of what makes him successful from the stretch and this ball is going to find the seats down the left field line foul strike one two out with the man at first swing and a miss and he's in trouble now 0 and 2 grounded to first and Boyd will take this one over to the bag and that ends the inning one left for Minnesota but that's part of three so digging in now Mike talking about he comes in over to thus far no left field this things far from over even though we're moving into the back end of this game only down by one all they need to do is get this lead off guy and they're an extra base hit away from tying this thing up one and oh the count checks his swing but this pitch is right there for strike one at one two balls and a strike and up here's the two and one but this will be a foul ball is that evens things at two and two missed down low in the dirt so it was working full now with three and two it'd be great right here if he was able to work himself on base you got the lead off hitter on deck and you know the middle of the orders coming up right behind swing and a miss there is the breaking ball takes care of him for the first down leading off the inning your job is to get on base and set the table and that he pushed the count to three and two and made the picture work but I think he'd like to have that three two pitch back pretty sure that was ball four he went after so here's the veteran Brett Gardner is a look at a change up the drops below the knees for ball one he's working on a one for two game so far but that one either it's two and oh bases are empty one man hot shot down the line but a foul ball and it's two and one now to Brett Gardner DJ LeMayhew will be next three one and he lays off ball four so now the potential time run here is a board late in the game well you never want to issue a free pass now that when a hitter like that digs in you'd rather he's standing at first and he's driving a ball out of here and erasing your one run lead Corey Garrett takes the mound now and it appears he's being brought in to face the right handed batter who's going to be next yeah you usually don't hear the term righty specialist very often but that's kind of how they're using him here Matt most hitters have a harder time against pitchers of the same handedness so we'll see if this move pans out DJ LeMay here will be the first to greet him here as he'll stand in with a runner at first and one away from the stretch fastball off the plate away it's ball one. He came in got one or two big outs but with the new pace of play rules they're forcing a change for this right hander the 1 0 is laid off for ball two Garen native of Tennessee this is the final year of his current deal so he'll be a free agent at season's end. You know Matty I know he's in the final year of his contract but he's playing to expectations to be honest with you I know he wants to turn it up a little bit though but he's got a little bit of a gallery push as he heads towards free agency again two balls in a strike now to one home waves and misses for strike number two great pitch in that situation he makes contact on that one more than likely he's hitting into a double play to two is looked at and the count moves for not a bad time right here to put that runner in motion three to count you send the runner and if it's a big strike he's on first with one down and a swing and a misses they got him with a slider there two away that's a big strike out there with the tying run over at first base now with two outs it becomes a lot more difficult to manufacture that guy home probably need a ball in the gap to give him a chance here's Miguel and a hard now he swings and sends a bullet to right field he has some trouble with it and that one will go no better than the other two aboard now how about not a bad night three singles don't take three for four every day of the week yeah and today's day and age Dan where everything's a home or a walk or a strike outs we're fashion to see this guy throw out three base heads the box Giancarlo Stanton this will take a look at a slider here that finds the zone for strike one so far two for three in this one no one pitch high and the food matters here in the seventh Yang strand a pair they still trail it here four to three Adam on a veto has been summoned from the ball pen as he'll do so to start the eighth number zero Adam on a veto now Nelson Cruz he got on top of one it was a ground out victim last time first pitch on its way one and no delivery downstairs two balls and no strikes this one almost in the books the story was clearly the long ball what are your thoughts on this offense fellas well Matty V I don't know what your thoughts are D-roll but boy when the weather starts to warm up and the ball starts jumping out like this it's clear that the pitchers need to start making better pitches yeah just great approach no one really chased today really stayed staunch on their ability to get that pitcher to come into the heart of the plate and they did damage with it on a second base there had instruction to get out there and it's two and two now we that was an ugly swing I'm sure he's not going to watch that one on replay after the game the two two lifted down the line in left and they can't run it down swing and a miss on the slider and that's out number one you look now at the numbers for our two starting pitchers and really nothing to write home about on either line as neither guy was able to hit the ball next will be the cleanup hitter Miguel Sano he looked to bounce back after striking out his last time up first delivery to him on the way hard liner to center field and that'll get down out there for extra bases and he'll pull in the second with one away and he obviously didn't let last night's heckless out and get to his head too much because that's his second hit of the ball game this one a double I'm sure he's feeling a lot better about the way he's playing now to the plate now Mitch Garver as the first pitch misses to him it's ball one is laid off of down and in action in the bullpen now as a right hander begins to throw out there how the two oh and one this is spot you'd like to be in as a good hitter runners in scoring position and count leverage in your favor and that misses ball four so it's first and second now with only one away man the pitchers wondering how he didn't get that call busted and inside on a three one count the young thought it was just a tad off the plate tough to get the benefit of the doubt from the umpire when you fall behind an account like that though so coming to the plate Max Kepler one for two in the ball game thus far ready with the first pitch here it comes lying down the left field line but this will be foul come set with the oh and one he takes a look at strike three called and that's as important as they come there two big outs now well no preferential treatment there sometimes we see great hitters have their calls go their way on close pitches but not this time I think that was actually a good take but on two strikes anything that close can go either way at the plate now Eddie Rosario as he will take strike one on the fast ball here no balls and a strike he's got a hit in three at bats to this point come set the oh one down in a way ball one well that backdoor breaking ball just missed right there it's a very effective pitch if you can hit the outside corner of that pitch it's unhittable maybe too much break on the slider two and one hey after those two breaking balls missed you have to be sitting on a fastball right here here's the two one job to spoil that one away and he stays alive four three our score here as we play the eighth this one misses and that'll fill the count here three and two with two away well no doubt in my mind this has been the at bat of the night so far it's misses for ball four so some intrigue now as the bases are loaded here with two away these guys on defense are still within striking distance but after that walk one swing of the bat could really blow this thing wide open Josh Donaldson will stand in here hoping to duplicate what he did back in the second inning as we flash you back to take another look at his solo home run that helped get this offense rolling hang a zero here's the pitch and he starts the number eight hitter with a strike nothing in one and when a pitcher is putting a tough spot he's usually going to go to what got him here and that's this guy's slider expect to see that more often come set the oh one good hard slider there but it runs away it's a ball and a strike bases are loaded here two down hit back toward the mound and that is in the center field as he comes through it's a base hit one run is scored and the second run will score as they open things up a bit now six to three the bat Hey Dero that's a big RBI right there to stretch this lead to three takes a lot of pressure off your pitcher going into the bottom part of the inning. Yeah Dan no doubt as an offense all you're trying to do is put your pictures in positions to be successful giving them that three run cushion has to make you feel good Tommy King enters the ball game out of the pen looking for the final out here in the top of ending number eight standing in now Marwin Gonzalez as he'll take a look at an off speed pitch here that misses for ball one he's hit less in three at bats to this point good fastball down around the knees there taken for a strike that's the exact spot to lean on as a reliever as a hitter you just have to tip your cap and look for the next one. Two men are on with two men out a swing and of all the left field that's going to get down for a base hit the throw is wild and it gets away. They're going to extend their lead as the runner scores from second. Hey that's what you try and do as an offense to get a four run lead. They're a grand slam ahead Dan but you're a former closer warming up when you see a three run lead and then your offense gets it to four and you know that same situation's gone out the window. Don't tell me that didn't hurt you. Oh it does. It does because Dero the only way you're going to get into this game is it has to be a safe situation. You sit and watch eight innings of baseball. You get up to warm up at the ninth and you're all ready to go thinking hey I'm going to come in and get me a three out save and all of a sudden you're out of the game because it's a four run lead of course you think about it as a reliever. Nope. Here's a fastball that crowds him a bit and it's one and one that's on the corner to put him behind now one and two and this guy's got an eighty nine mile an hour changeup. There was a time when eighty nine was a pretty good fastball and he strikes him out here so he's able to stop the bleeding a bit as the side is retired. So three runs on three hits no errors and two men left on base not too many more shots left home half of the eighth coming up. The twins are in front seven to three. Tyler Duffy is on to pitch out of the bullpen in the bottom half of the eighth. Ready once again. Geo or shell he'll see what he can do leading off the home eighth. It doesn't look very promising so far in this one as we move into the later innings down by a bundle. It's time to get some base runners and hopefully a long ball to get them back into this one. First delivery to him on the way into the wind up. Here comes the O and one. This is swung on and lifted down the left field line but it will get back into the crowd as he jumps ahead of him now O and two nothing in two count and the pitch hit hard toward the right side. But that finds the first baseman's glove and that's a tough body catcher Gary Sanchez digging into try it again. Gary Sanchez he's two for three and looking for more here. Here comes the first pitch fastball too high and it's one to know when either it's to an O both teams with an even 10 hits in the ballgame probably surprised to see the knuckle curve there two and one. Hey I know he's aware he can't tie the game with one swing of the bat but maybe he's just trying to excite the boys and get one on the board and right into the shift gets him two down the batter the shortstop Tyler digging in once again Tyler Wayne and he hasn't quite had the same fortune at the plate as many of his teammates. No hits for him so far first pitch coming here it is swing and a miss O and one. Hey if you're able to blow a first pitch fastball by a guy gotta believe that pitch is coming again right here fastball well outside close but he didn't get it two and one. Now pitch on the way lifted in the air to center and eight innings have come and gone now as the inning is over one two three go to bombers deficit holds it for its seven to three green enters from the pen to start the ninth inning as he'll try to keep the school right where it is heading to the bottom of the ninth green Buckston he was retired via the ground ball last time up vibrant Buckston comes set here's the nothing and nothing pitch ninth inning underway now as the first pitch is taken for a cold strike the one pitch now a late Bunt attempt here but he misses strike to hit hard to the left side and a base hit so the leadoff man is aboard definitely tried to elevate the heater right there with two strikes but now that way too much of the plate. Nice execution by the hitter now Nelson clues as the first pitch to him runs a bit inside for Bowl one. He comes into this appearance in the midst of a one for four day. All left side. He's got it. LeMay here for one and the throw was offline but a good job to come off the bag and get the tag down. It's a double play the bat now at the plate. Miguel Sano he launched one over the wall back in the opening frame set. Here it comes. That's a ball bases are empty here with two men out to pitch a fastball inside and he's struggling here. It's 3 and 0. If I'm managing this hitter right here he doesn't even have to look down at the third base coach. You know he's got the green light. He's one of the best hitters in your lineup. Here it is the 3 0 is looked at for the first strike stealing that strike on 3 0 was important but you don't want to miss over the heart of the plate in this situation. I gotta believe he's going to be way more aggressive here. Full count three balls and two strikes to the twins DH hit the other way out toward right field and that'll get down for a base hit. He is in the second with a double his third hit of the night. And that's hitting one on one right there. The only way you're able to execute that type of base on that type of pitch is to recognize it early stay tall stay back and trust the process into the box now Mitch Garver. He'll take a cold strike here on a borderline pitch at strike one. He's working on a one for three thus far lays off the slider and it's one and one and he fouls this one off runner in scoring position at second with two down and he struck him out. So a good pitch there and now they're going to need to string some hits together in this last at bat if they want to get back in this thing. Twins wind up stranding one they hang on to a seven to three lead your attention please. Now pitchers set to take over now it's the right hander Sergio Romo that gets the call Sergio Romo. Ready to go for the last half of the young or the young starting forward now number four for two from him so far in this one boy first delivery to him on the way. Now a ball lined to the left side but this will be a foul ball ready with the 0 1 and I believe they'll say he broke the plane as yes he did it's ruled a strike swing and a miss and that'll get a groan from the home supporters here one away classic slider down and away from a strike out there. Not a whole lot to say about that pitch that hasn't been said a million times already that's just a real tough pitch for a hitter to pick up out of a pitcher's hand so they end up chasing when they're in protect mode. So now to the play Mike Tuckman as he looks at a fastball that's in there for strike one. He could really use a knock here over three in the game so far and he lays off for ball one offer on that one two balls in a strike some movement now in the Minnesota bullpen as a right handers up and throwing now pitch on the way and he can't catch the corner here so he's behind three and one well he really needs to make this guy swing the bat right here. He's not the type of hitter you want to dance around with one out nobody on popped him up Garver has a play to God the center fielder number eleven Brett Gardner. So the batting order turns over now and set to go Brett Gardner he comes to the plate as the last chance for his side two out here in the ninth he set and the pitch and that's in there for strike one pulls this one into right and that will get down for a two out single. So the bottom of the ninth is still alive after the two out success. Hey guys that's an excellent job right there. That's a back foot slider usually those are kryptonite for most batters and he's able to fight it off keep his hands inside the baseball and deliver a basic into the box. DJ LeMayhew as he'll watch a slider that stays inside for ball one. He went down on strikes last time up and it fouled off to the right side a runner on first with two away towards second first and that is going to conclude that festivities here tonight. Hey it's hard to win games at any point but the win games on the road especially in this ballpark. So they are very happy with this win and tonight's final seven to three the twins cross the plate three times in the A helping propel them to the win. Jose Marios earns win number four on the season. So that just about does it for Mark DeRosa Dan please act Heidi Watney and our entire crew. I'm Matt Vaskers and you've been watching MLB the show for more make your way over to the show nation dot com.