 We are under the lights as the show gets you ready for another edition of major league baseball tonight an intriguing matchup between the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins. It's time for Twins baseball. Next, Kento Maeda is on the mound for game two. What do you have for us on him, Danny? Hey, this guy pitched really well in his last outing, only allowing one run. If he brings that kind of stuff to the ballpark, he has a chance to pitch another gem in this one. Here's Brett Gardner now. He enters play sixth in the American League in the batting race. This isn't this guy's first rodeo. He's been in the league for quite a while now. This Wiley veteran is having a great year. Here it comes. Underway in the second of four here this weekend as the game's first pitch is taken for ball one. And guys as we take a look at the twins at the start of play here tonight. They come into this one off a loss that finally snapped what was a long, long 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, this team's sitting pretty right now. 3-0 now. I don't blame him for not coming over the heart of the plate. He circled this guy on the lineup card when he got to the yard today. He's been swinging one of the hotter bats in the game. 3-1 now to Brett Gardner. Hitters count all the way. Here it comes. Fouled away. 3-2 pitch. And he lays off ball four and the leadoff man is on to begin the ball game. About a second. The second baseman. DJ LeMayhew. Stepping up to the plate, DJ LeMayhew. And as you check out his righty lefty splits, no surprise that he hits better against south pause than he does against right-handers. Ready to deliver, here's the first pitch. LeMayhew is undoubtedly one of the best hitters in the sport, and it doesn't matter right-handed or left-handed pitching, he's one of the elite threats with the bat in his hands. That evens it up one-and-one. Gardner on it first, nobody out. And there's ball two now. Previous head-to-head matchups with Kenta Maeda. He's got five base hits in 24 at bats. He's taken him deep once. And to the right side, in there, a base hit. And that runner will go no further than second as there are two aboard now. Boy, so frustrating as a pitcher. You make a quality pitch on the inside half of the plate right there. Try to bust him in D-Row and he fights it off the other way. Yeah, you tip your hat to the pitcher right there. He executed his pitch, but nice job by the offensive player, fighting. It doesn't matter what it looks like, a knock's a knock. From the stretch, here's the pitch. Lays off one-and-one. Time to look at our umpires in this one. Behind the plate is Dave Lawrence. Dan, we got Dave Lawrence behind the dish tonight. One of the best in the business, in my opinion, but sometimes has a tendency to fall into a pattern where he's given a little bit too much on that outside corner. Yeah, D-Row, one of the things he'll do, he'll open up that outside corner, especially with left-handed batters. Now the one-and-one pitch. Line toward right center. And that's in there, base hit. Gartner, rounds third and is digging for the plate. The run comes across to score and they jump ahead, one-nothing. Boy, after scoring a boatload yesterday, D-Row, the fast start again, striking here in the first inning. Yeah, this offense is on fire. Obviously, the hit-and-meaning resonated with these guys, scored a ton yesterday and picked up right where they left off. So now it'll be the four-hole hitter, Giancarlo Stanton. And as you take a look at the splits here, he's actually better against right-handed pitching this season. First pitch on its way. The fast ball here is he'll take a look at ball one, one-and-one. This is exactly the situation you drew up from an offensive standpoint. Good pitcher on the mound, but you've got a chance to bury him early in this one. The 1-0 is looked at off the plate for a ball. Plot thickens here, three and 0. This is a spot you'd like to be in as a good hitter. Runners in scoring position and count leverage in your favor. A 3-0. Runners at the corners here, nobody out. Three balls and two strikes to the Yankees' D-age. With two strikes now and a runner at first, do you go for the strikeout or are you still looking for the double play ball? Good time to try to put the ball down in the strike zone. You can either get a strikeout or a potential double play ball. Now the three-and-two pitch. You've got Swung on and missed for the first down. That is good. Digging in now for the Yankees, Torez. And the Yankees trying to make this first inning even sweeter here. Come set, here's the nothing-and-nothing pitch. So far this season with runners in scoring position, Torez is holding on to a batting average way down in the 2-10s. He'd be the first to tell you he's not happy with his batten average this season, but he can beat. And this one gets away. What a bad time for a wild pitch as the run will score from third. Yeah, and when you're losing, there's usually a good reason for it. They're already down and then he lets this one get away from him. They better keep them within striking distance, or this thing is going to get lopsided in a hurry. 2-0 count, the pitch. 23 pitches already here in the first inning. Started to chase that time, but then he wisely holds off for ball three. And it's up to a 3-2 full count now. When you get yourself to a 3-1 count and you get a fastball, those are the ones you really want to punish. Couldn't get the bat on it, so we'll see if that comes back to Haunted. Payoff pitch on. Hit on the ground after short. Gonzalez is up with it. Progets him two down. Now batting, Gary Sanchez. And he's looking to snap out of what's been a rather dry spell at the plate. First pitch of the at bat on its way. 1-0. I think this inning could have far reaching effects in this game. They're really making him work, and unless he dials it in, it's probably going to limit how deep he goes into this game. Runs outside so it goes to 2-0 now. If you've been paying attention, the guy on the mound does not want to come inside. If I'm at the plate, I'm leaning out over. 3-0 now. Has a look, now the pitch. Even though it's early on in this one, any time you get runners in scoring position, you'd like to knock them in. The 3-1 pitch. And that misses ball four. So it's first and second now with two out. At this rate, he's going to set some kind of a record for walks issued in the game where he'll get an early hook. We'll see if he can settle down here and start to find the strike zone or if he continues to struggle. Here's Miguel Andujar now. And he comes into this one having hit safely in his last five games. Looking to minimize the damage here. Swing and a line drive. Ah, but he just misses extra bases. Chopped foul at the plate here and it's 0-2. Two down runners at first and second. That misses 1-2. 2-2. This is a huge pitch right here. I don't think he wants to go 3-2 and have those runners be in motion. Look for him to be aggressive with what he thinks is his best pitch right now. From the stretch. And that's taken high for a ball that's full now, 3-2. Wow, this is a pretty good at bat right here down in the count 0-2 to work the count back to 3-2 and he's seen a lot of pitches too. He's set and the payoff pitch. Good job to spoil that one away and he stays alive. The next 3-2. And he misses again. Ball four. And that's back to back guys now that have reached base via the base on balls. 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. Coming to the plate now. Mike Tuckman. It was a three-hit effort from him last night so he was a big part of that victory. No balls and a strike to count. Two out bases loaded. Hit in the air out to center field. Buxton is there now as he makes the catch and they're able to avoid the huge inning here as the side is retired. So they wind up with two in the inning but it could have been a lot worse as they leave the bases loaded. On now to the bottom of ending number one the Yankees lead it two to nothing. Jordan Montgomery will be on the bump for game two of the series. Dan any thoughts. Hey one of the strengths of this guy is handling right handed hitters. Right handers coming into this game are hitting under 250 against this guy so he's doing a lot of things right when the right hander step into the batter's box. He's standing in Louisa Reyes. It'll lead things off here in the bottom half of the first. The second baseman Louis. Oh right. And as the Yankees get started here tonight guys 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 I can't tell you how important it is to throw that first run up on the board and that's exactly what they did little crooked number a two spot to give their pitcher a chance to relax and go out and pound the strike zone. This team has been playing red hot baseball recently. The wind up and the O2 pitch. He didn't look overly fooled right there because a lot of pitchers will go to the breaking stuff 0 and 2 but he certainly look ready for a breaker on that pitch. Here he comes on a ball and two strikes. Here's a swing and a shot back up the middle and that finds the outfield grass for a base hit. He's going to get to second now with nobody out. This is exactly what you want to do when you've gone down by two runs. Answer the ball so he leads off the next inning and gets them going with a double. Now they can scratch a run or two across this inning. They'll be right back in this one. So that will bring in Byron Buxton as the first pitch to him is off the plate for a ball one or no. He comes in with that average down in the 240s six home runs and 33 driven in. This winds up inside for a ball 2 and 0 now. He's going to have to have a talk with the umpire after this half inning. But if he's not going to get those calls he's got to come a little bit more over the heart of the plate and that usually means damaged. Too high and it's 3 and 0. Following next is Nelson Cruz. He waits on deck is the 3 0 laid off but in there for strike one. You maybe get two pitches a game where all the guesswork goes out the window. This is certainly that situation. Hey I love that pitch right there. Better execution after just giving up an extra base hit 3 2 pitch swing high drive left field and deep boom goes the dynamite from Homer for Byron Buxton 7 home runs for him on the year now as the twins have rallied to tie it to very long. Great swing of the bat right there to get your team right back in it and tie this one up. That'll bring up the big stick of Nelson Cruz. He looks at a fastball that misses off the plate for ball one comes into his first at bat at 283 15 long balls and 51 runs batted in stands 6 2 as you see him in the right handed box. This is the final year of his current deal so he'll be a free agent at seasons end. You know Maddie 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 as he approaches the end of the season and make that salary push as he heads towards free agency again. Still hanging with him another good swing to keep it going. The one to Miguel Sino will be next. No outs nobody on now the fastball is right by him as he swings and misses for the first out of the inning. Talk about blowing it by a guy. I think he was looking for something on speed and he just couldn't pull the trigger on that fastball. So the big bad of Miguel Sino digs in next as he will look at a first pitch fastball for ball one. He'll check in here at two fifty six a dozen home runs and he's driven in forty five. Now the one oh he's looked at for ball number two looks like that bomb earlier in any kind of put this picture on the defensive that being very aggressive right now. Two and one now. Not the ideal location for a change up up in the zone but he got away with it. Had a good cut there but he can't time the breaking ball that evens us at two and two hit hard to the right side foul ready twenty four pitches to this point in the inning. Full count three balls and two strikes to the twins D.H. Look like he tried to elevate a fastball on that two to pitch there but kind of overdid it with a pitch that high. It's pretty easy to lay off if you're the hitter. Now this is lined into left field for a base hit and he's in there easily at second with a one out double. You don't think being a starting pitcher in this league would have to resolve. He's already given up more runs in the first inning in this one than he did his entire last start. That's the kind of roller coaster ride that will make you a little crazy but that's kind of how baseball works sometimes. Now with the play Mitch Garver he's currently ninth in the American League batting race entering play. This season really shouldn't come as a surprise to many. We all know what kind of skill this guy produces when he has a bat in his hands. He's set. Here it comes. Fastball swung on and missed good job there to jump ahead with the fastball. If he's going to get back on track out there the fastball is what he's going to start to need locating first and foremost. Then he can work his other pitches off of that still only one out in the inning almost got him hits a ball in a strike one one home count is one and two now a last two pitches back to back off speed then he's laid on the fastball he could pretty much do anything he wants right here on the mound the one and two pitch and a good take there close but it's two and two up to an even 30 pitches here in the first inning on a grip that one a bit too tightly as it broke down in just about got him. Yeah when you're almost hitting guys that's a sign that you're a little bit too jumpy out there to start the game so that's a good move by the guy behind the plate to just come out and talk to him and encourage him and settle him down a little bit and that misses ball four so with one out that'll at least set up the double play possibility here that could get them out of the inning. Wow he's looking awfully shaky to start this game guys that's three hits and a walk and there's no doubt that he's fighting himself right now. See if he can get this train back on the rails here. Max Kepler the next to grab a bat. He brings a hit streak that currently sits at six games entering play just able to get a piece of that for strike one it's a ball and a strike one and one here it comes a lots of guys get too aggressive in a spot like this but he's done a nice job of gaining some count leverage look for him to put the ball and play hard and the two one started to go around but he's able to check his swing for ball three pulled toward right center field judge is on his horse. He gets there and that's the second out batting that the left fielder Eddie Rosario settling in now Eddie Rosario and now the twins looked up late more in the opening frame hoping to limit the damage. Here's the pitch and he misses inside with that one ball one two men are on with two men out who pulled the string and had him way out in front of ball and a strike. Here's the one one great chance right here as a hitter to be really aggressive with two guys already on pretty good shot. He's going to get a challenge pitch right here grounded the first and this gets right through him and that may be a run and they'll put the brakes on that runner third and that means the bases are loaded now two away. I'm not sure this ball might have caught him in between hops. I'm not sure which way to turn his glove in the next thing you know it's by him. Happing in Josh Donaldson eighth batter of the inning now with the bases loaded and two away the first pitch to him. So important getting ahead with the bases loaded already a difficult situation so you don't want to make it any harder by falling behind in the count. Ready with the 0 and 1 and he comes back with a pitch that misses here one and one to the Minnesota third baseman. Wallman two strikes a strike away now from getting out of this mess. Sometime pitching is all about minimizing right. So keeping it to two runs across in the inning would be huge fouled away one two pitch got him. So the damage winds up not being as bad as it could have been as they'll strand the bases loaded the side is a little tired but two run score for the twins both coming on this two run home run second inning coming up and work deadlock now at two apiece to the box. Look boy and the home away splits tell us he's actually quite a bit better hitting on the road than he is at home and field in the over shift here now the pitch ninety two splits the plate and it's strike one. Yeah he made up his mind early to take the first pitch because that thing was right down the middle by change up hit on the ground to shortstop Gonzalez is there and a bit of a high throw that time with no problem over there at first as they were pulled about the center field Brett Gardner digging in to try it again Brett Gardner. He scored after reaching on a walk in his first at bat here's the pitch look out and that'll give him a close shape. Well that'll wake everyone up anytime you buzz the tower like that there's reason for people to start getting a little bit edgy. Get down the line at first this will get foul two and one he's fallen behind down three and one in two to the Yankees center fielder I know to the fans that probably look like something good to hit but unless you're sitting breaking ball right there I don't care if it's middle of the plate that's a tough pitch to pull the trigger on and he fouls this one off high chopper to third throw gets him to down the bat the second base so bases are empty here with two gone and that'll bring in DJ LeMayhew 50th pitch of the game on its way two outs nobody on but a base runner here feels like it would really change the complexion of the inning big spot right here middle of the order guys coming up and see if he can extend the inning sent on the ground out to second and that's through for a base hit so they'll get a two out base runner here as we check out the list of the best hitting teams roughly midway through the season and you can see right there that these guys ranked second in the AL in that category here's big Aaron judge looking to follow up the RBI single from his first at bat from the belt kicks and deals nope ball one hey a two out single isn't all that bad but it can be when you've got this part of the lineup coming up man at first with two out in a two to ball game two balls and no strength it's a lot easier to hit when you're putting yourself in good hitters counts this guy's done a great job not swinging at pitchers pitches and when he's getting the ball in his own he's getting the barrel to it he's been hot lately and here's a fastball for a strike two and one now great job of doubling up with the fast ball inside a lot of times you'll see a pitcher go in there but they won't go back in there a second time this guy's not afraid to pitch inside well behind that fastball it's a swinging strike this pitchers bringing it with some high payload you better get that front foot down early and get ready or he's going to throw it right by it it's in the dirt and that gets away and he'll make it into scoring position here with two away as that'll be scored a wild pitch well this inning was looking routine and then with one base hit and a wild pitch later things are looking a lot different now what base hit scores a run got a reset on the mound and make some good pitches here two out here in a runner at second three called and the ending is over left for the Yankees bottom of the second inning coming up all square at two a piece there's Marwan Gonzalez now and he comes in as a player to watch out for hitting well over 300 on the season ball away good ball out first delivery to him on the way and that's inside for a ball one and all and now pitch on the way fastball well outside hard down the line but a foul ball and it's two and one now for now the two two is a swing and a miss that strike three really good pitch right there so you're moving the ball all around the strike zone now what do you do you come in that's a hard pitch for any hitter to do anything with just really makes it difficult to get that bad head out stepping in now Louisa Reyes she'll take a breaking ball then off the plate for ball one second shot now he doubled to start out the home first this is lying to left and that's in for a base hit his second in his many trips to the play the center fielder number twenty five five red so runner at first with one out now and that will bring up the speedy out fielder Byron Buxton and in that last at bat it makes you think this guy might have went up there looking for the breaking ball because he's certainly got a breaking ball and he didn't miss it hit it right on the screws can't find the zone there as he lays off the breaking ball you know I think he's having a hard time with that curve ball right now and that's part of the reason why he struggled early on in the start it's so important to have command of those secondary pitches or hitters just start sitting on the hard stuff one and no delivery can't connect there on the breaking ball one and one Buxton or sometimes just buck for short this is his sixth season for him in the big leagues oh two balls in a strike he might still be thrown off from that first inning guys he got knocked around pretty good and that can be hard to recover from mentally sometimes runner at first here with one away in a two to ball game runners on the move for second fouled away even at two balls in two strikes here's the pitch grounder down the line at third the two to one more time but it won't skip away far enough for the runner to advance the three to pitch popped him up Torres has a play and he makes the catch for the second now now batting right fielder Nelson digging in for his second at bat Nelson Cruz he looked to bounce back after striking out his last time up yeah kind of shocked he got blown away with a fastball you could tell he was laid on that one and we'll see if he tries to cheat to something to say big ready with the nothing in one pitch swung on and missed and that's the final out of the inning some of our nation's young minds and future leaders here in attendance yikes we're back to Friday night baseball on the show after this welcome back here's Heidi Watney with the report as we get set for the top of the third Heidi thanks Matt I talked with 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 they've already worked out three walks so he feels as though that kind of willingness to let the opposition work themselves into trouble will continue to result in good things for them on the scoreboard all right Heidi thank you and digging into the batter's box next will be Giancarlo Stanton as we are all set to begin the third inning in this one first pitch coming here it is too low one and oh now some action out in the Minnesota pen as it looks like both the lefty and the right hander are up to throw here comes the one oh he couldn't pull that one back as he clearly broke the plane to the plate and that will be ruled a strike line that's a base hit in the left field so a lead off single will be the start to their half of the third well last time this guy had some success but he can't seem to get it going here now that he's given them more hits in this one later than his entire life and we're only in the third inning bring up Glaver Torez the swing and left the ball fouled off to the left and out of play broke to the second baseman had it got there so quickly the runner didn't get very far from the bag they settle with just one out Gary one out here in the Yankees third inning and that will bring up Gary Sanchez first delivery to him on the way set here's the 01 one and to the count now working for the punch out and the offering he takes strike three called on the fastball couldn't pull the trigger and there are two away runner on first in a double play situation so you expect to see a lot of pitches down in the zone so I think that pitch up right there was a good one obviously the double play is more efficient but you're always going to take the K when you're on the mound and that will bring up Miguel and do hard as the first pitch to him runs a bit inside for bowl one popped him up Garver shading to his right and that ends the Yankees leave one will go to the bottom of the third all even at two apiece welcome back to target field as we send it to Heidi Watney 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 it's still pretty early in the game but they've seen a lot of pitches already and he thinks the two runs they've pushed across so far is just the beginning given the quality of the app that's they're putting together thank you Heidi the number four Minnesota hitter Miguel Sino one one as he reached base with a double his first time up he's got to build off that last day be he battled usually when you battle you get in that swing mode a lot of pitches you'll swing at the rosin bag I love the fact that he was able to work a double in last at bat let's see if we get more of the same right here oh and won the count and he gets him to swing through that one he's in control oh and two couple of righties starting to loosen now in the bullpen swing in a miss as he starts the third the same way he ended the second with a punch out one away I think that curveball is a big reason why he's able to turn things around and this start after a rough beginning it's got some good bite to it so that tells me he's doing a nice job of snapping it off out front really finishing that pitch like you're supposed to into the box now Mitch Garver as he'll take a breaking ball too low and it's one and oh and it's fouled away one out nobody on one and two to the twins catcher to two balls and two strikes now not sure if that was a great take or if he got locked up on a two steamer running away but either way it worked out well for him that's a well thrown pitch though into the wind up here comes the 2 2 pitch and a change up here but that's taken low in the dirt for a ball to be honest with you I'm a little bit more afraid of the guy on deck than the guy that's up right now if I'm on the mound I want this guy up right now he's the guy that's got to beat me into the wind up ready with the payoff pitch hit softly down the line at first but this will get foul so they'll do it again three and two bases are empty one man now he fouls this one off not surprised he's laid on a heater right there just saw an off speed pitch one to stay back a little bit too long another full count pitch home and this misses for ball for the second walk he surrendered here in the first three innings well the reason power hitters generally draw more walks and other guys is exactly what we saw right there pitchers work around them and nibble the corners a lot more so they don't get burned he made some good pitches but he just couldn't get him to chase enough out of the zone with the plate Max Kepler flight out in his first half bat so make him over one so far from the stretch runner at first year one man now a swing and a ball shot foul right at home plate two ball one strike count to the twins first baseman that hook stayed up in the zone you can see he struggled with that curveball early he's trying to find that release point with his off speed pitches left to see if he can find the field for that thing moving forward and it's two balls and two strikes now might have been taking all the way right there that pitch couldn't have split the strike zone any better and you can bet he wants that one back at the plate and a swing and a miss and another punch out here six already and that's out number two that swing tells me he was really trying to get a pitch out front and work it down the line but that wasn't a great pitch to do it on it's really not the best two strike approach either so now to the plate Eddie Rosario fouled off over one here in the early going set to deliver the oh and one pulls this one into the air out into right field judges on the move he gets there to make the catch and that ends the inning twins wind up stranding one with through three tied to a piece striding in Mike talking he's over one thus far Mike first offering on its way swing and a miss oh and one catch on the way always a fastball that crowds him a bit and it's one and one strike taken good bender on the outside there I couldn't tell from up here if the hitter was taking all the way or sitting fastball and just got knee buckled either way that was a really good curve ball right there move on to the next pitch but have that in the back of your mind count even at two and two pitch on the way slider and that's hit on the ground towards second oh and it eats him up a bit in fielders out from the time they hold the blood it you've got to play the ball and not let the ball play you you can see here that this one just ate him up and he couldn't recover in time first following the error and here comes the first baseman look void from the stretch swing and a miss and he's in control oh and to swing and a miss as he ran the fastball right by him for the first down well there's nothing better from a pitcher standpoint to watch in that high fastball a high piece of cheese swung at a miss that pitch looks so inviting to hit but it's awfully tough to put in play so here's the veteran Brett Gardner as the first pitch tunes a change up but can't find the zone it's ball one comes into this at bat 0 for one in the ball game on the first baseline but a foul ball one and one two balls in a strike down to the Yankees lead off man that was attempting pitch the swing at right there a big power guy like this really wants something that he can elevate and drive out of the ballpark the two one ball three no reason to sit on anything other than the hard stuff in a location you like and drive it right now hits are now even at four a half and the count will be full now the three and two pitch fouled away here's a little chopper up the middle scooped up there's one wisely no thought of a return throw and the inning will continue so that one wasn't quite hit sharply enough to turn to yeah choppers like that make it really tough you can't make the ball get to you much faster so the key is making sure you're going to cleanly and at least get one which they did there Rich Hill picks over here with the runner at first and two gone in the inning he'll make you will be the first to greet him here as he stands in with the runner at first and two away from the belt kicks and deals on one count one and two runs four hits and one error on the Yankee line score so far and he gets a piece of it here but it's chopped foul one one ripped on the ground to first a diving effort as it's off his glove and they will still manage to get him at first a spectacular all around play and the inning is over one error in the inning but it doesn't hurt him on now to the bottom half of ending number four and we are tied to two Louis Sessa a right hander standing six foot even will take over the pitching duties here to go in the bottom of the fourth and that'll give way to the third baseman Josh Donaldson ready with the first pitch here it comes fastball just misses that's ball one that's wide to an old you can see this guy's more focused at the plate right now in that first day B he went down on strikes here comes the 2 0 pitch swing and there it goes deep to left no chance at bringing this one back to solo shot off the bat of Josh Donaldson number 18 for him on the campaign and the twins have taken the lead it's now three to two obvious that he's in a groove right now my advice to this staff don't give him anything he can extend his arms on you do and he's going to make you pay for it just like he did that matter right now Marwin Gonzales that misses for ball one for him here in this one the 1 0 free runs five hits and one error make up the totals for the twins to this point and this runs inside and that looked like it got him pretty good these guys are pros and they're tough but I know that would hurt they'll never show it though too much pride at stake all right to the top of the lineup stepping in Louisa Reyes already two for two who look to add on right here first delivery to him on the way especially after drilling the last guy up at the plate that's just a great job to get your mechanics back on to you and establish yourself back in the strike zone nobody out runner on first and that's in there as well 0 and 2 now working for the punch out and the offering and a check swing here but the back clearly breaks the plane as he set down for the first time by red so one gun in the inning here with a runner at first and that'll bring up the speedy outfielder Byron Buxton to look now the pitch runners on first with one down sneaks a fastball by him at the letters it's one and one one and two the pitch swing and a miss on the fastball that time out number two boy that's really disappointing for a guy that has wheels right all he wants to do is get out of base and take advantage of the strength of this game which is his speed but the strikeout right there can't get on first base if you strike out here's Nelson Cruz now as he'll watch a slider that runs out of the strike zone away for ball one no hits to this point now it's 2 and 0 couple strikeouts early in the game but he's done a much better job than this at bat trying to get ahead and put himself in a good hitters count here's the 2 and 0 lofted in the air out toward right center judges on the move he can't get there so the inning will continue they have to that hit right there Dero that extensive hitting streak to six games no doubt about it's six days in a row with knots will help sleep better at night then here's Miguel Sunno as the first missus to limits ball one one for two in the ball game thus far called strike at the knees one and one one and one the inside corner for ball two 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 two and one here it is drives it the other way to deep right judges going back but he can't make the play as it finds the outfield grass he pulls into second safely as also on the play a run comes across to score number eight when this thing left as bad I started to have enough to get out of here didn't quite carry enough but it does one hop the wall off the track and he cruises in the second with an RBI two bag you'll take that every day of the week Mitch Garver as he takes a fastball off the plate for a ball one and all these guys hitting aren't in first place by accident they excel at getting out to early lead so this is a big moment in this game if they're able to lengthen this lead any more in this inning they're going to be in really good shape to come away with a win today that swung on and missed were even at one and one runners at second and third with two gone just behind the fastball there two strikes now ready with the one two you know he's probably cheating on that inside pitch after he got jammed earlier if you're on the mound right now you want to try to hit that outside corner there's a pretty good chance you'll get him to roll over something turned on but that's ripped foul down the third base line the two two popped him up and he'll get under it to put it away in foul territory and that ends the inning so two runs on three hits including the home run no errors and two left we played four full it's the twins four and the Yankees two all ready to go in the top of the fifth and that'll bring up the big bat of Aaron judge things not looking very good so far in this one but we're still in the eighth inning because 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 and win this one in the eighth or ninth inning strike one to start the at bat into the wind up here comes the oh and one tries to shave the corner with that pitch but it's one and one and it's a ballman two strikes not Aaron judge lifted down the line long run for the left fielder on the warning track he makes the catch now batting the designated hitter John Carlos Danton Giancarlo Stanton now one for two on his line so far in the game first pitch of the at bat on its way and he lays off there one and oh ball in a strike and here's a fast ball not close as he runs it to two and one now takes that one a little bit low three balls in a strike now they know the threat this guy possesses at the plate I know it's three one in this situation right here but I can't imagine anything comes over the heart of the plate hitters count all the way here it comes no offer from Stanton it's ball four so he'll head down to first up next for the ankle the cook labor late torres over two from him so far in this one with the first pitch here it comes I couldn't catch up with the gas that time into the corner and slicing foul the one two and this one's in the dirt but it won't skip away far enough for the runner to advance so a full count now we could see the runner in motion here on a three to count with one out there's a pretty good chance he's going to get a pitch to swing it and if not it's ball four anyways it's fouled away here's one hit in the air to the right side a rise ranges back and he has it for route number two now batting catcher Gary stepping in Gary Sanchez he got called out on strikes his last time through yeah maddie and hopefully he got it out of his system especially now he's got a bear down he gets the two strikes in this spot has to put the ball in play too high want to know fastball laid off well below the knees four to our score here as we play any number five two and one after the foul ball there has a look now the pitch three and one now as that misses down an end Miguel Andujar would be next fouls this one off three to two out runner on first lots of possible outcomes on this pitch payoff pitch home freezes him a strikeout looking one left for the Yankees they trail it here four to two how do you once again Max Kepler he got out swinging his last trip to the play the first baseman back in field shift to the right here's the first pitch and here's a fast ball called for strike one and he falls behind 0 and 2 a thing in two count and the pitch slow roller down the third baseline this is on the ground over the first throws in time and that's out number one the left fielder cover 20 Eddie Rosario up next for Minnesota Eddie Rosario he's 0 for 2 in the ballgame so far first offering on its way one ball one no strike one ball one strike the count inside with the slider and that'll back him up a bit no slider misses and he's in danger of losing him here three and one back to back sliders in on the hands he didn't handle it real well at all in the previous pitch so why not come right back with it again better job of laying off that one though can't keep that one fair and now the counts full three to counts are usually a time to challenge the hitter but I think he'll be careful here shoot for the corner and if you miss and you walk him so what that's better than him putting one in the seats and that's outside he lost him ball four the third baseman number 24 got so a runner at first with one man gone and here's Donaldson the last at that many we heard this guy is a good fastball hitter he got a fastball did miss it we'll see if they pitch him a little bit differently this time and mix in some off speed pitches first pitch fastball off the plate there in its ball one runner at first year one man out and he won't bite at that one either it's two and oh clearly working the bottom of the zone trying to get a ground ball for a double play now the two oh home a swing and a miss that's the first strike one strike good slider there swung on and missed as he's down on strikes for the second time tonight you know what was really impressive to me about that strikeout that fell behind to know to start the bat that's a pretty bad price to be but then he kind of refocused himself and came right back with three quality pitches in a row to sit him down that's not easy to do but now his focus has to hone in on getting ahead on the next guy and a high strike to begin the at bat it's 0 and 1 two out with the man at first no breaking ball below the zone that's ball one and he lays off for a ball two and one has a look now the pitch never attempted to swing at that ball down low it's ball three 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 a runner on first with two away to first and he can't come up with it toss behind the back throw to first in plenty of time and the side is retired so they pick up no runs no hits no errors and a runner left on five innings complete it's the twins four and the Yankees two after the sixth about to get started and striding into the plate it'll be Miguel and do hard first pitch coming here it is a ball of no strikes every ball club has that spark plug guy and this is the guy right here he usually ignites a lot of productive innings bow a very high strike but a strike nonetheless and it's one and one fastball close but he didn't get it two and one here's the pitch in the air to center center fielder giving Chase he gets to it and makes the catch for the first out up there for the eighth the left fielder Mike talk at the plate Mike talkman 0 4 2 for him to this point ready with the first pitch here it comes into the wind up here comes the oh and one we're in the sixth inning now of a four to two ball game and this is swung out and missed so it's two up two down to start the sixth inning the bat digging in now Luke point he's grounded out and struck out in his two trips to the plate first delivery to him on the way one oh hey a two out walk right here would be the tying run to the plate even though it's early on you got a guy on deck that has a lot of pop here's a swing and a ground ball and the inning will continue as that's through for a two out hit now batting the center fielder Brett Gardner at the plate now Brett Gardner as he rips it on the ground a second he's got it a second for the four shot and the side is retired yanks leave one still down by a count of four to two you're a heller winners to do the pitching in the bottom of the sixth number sixty one then heller bottom of the sixth inning now and that will bring in the second baseman Louisa Ryan's Louie of Ryan first pitch of the at bat on its way heller originally from the Badger state of Wisconsin he was taken in the twenty second round back in the draft of two thousand thirteen I know this guy wouldn't go into the category of superstar but to grind out the career he has being drafted where he was my hat's off to him now a fastball off the plate away a ball and a strike this is hit the other way out toward left field Tockman is right there as he puts it away no problem for the first down the center fielder number twenty five Byron Buxton Byron Buxton 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 now here's the pitch good fastball as he gets the swing and a miss and it looks like the Yankees will have a left hander up and throwing in the bullpen the wind up and the oh one tried to get him to go after the slider but it's one and one popped him up over toward the left side of the infield and he'll put this away for the second out there now batting the right fielder Nelson digging in and looking for more Nelson Cruz. He steps in off a base hit and his last at bat first offering on its way and he takes a cold strike 0 and 1. Hey there aren't too many power hitters in the game that would let that pitch go by well out in front of the breaking ball there for a strike. Hey this is an amazing inning right here attacking the zone keeping his defense invested chance to get off the field super quick to the wind up here comes the O2 pitch. Not sure if that was a purpose pitch or not but I liked it as a pitcher sometimes you've got to be willing to back the guy off the plate by running something hard inside. You can't just let guys be comfortable standing in the batter's box against you to out nobody on and it's to two and two now with the empty and two gone here in the inning and he struck out again that's the third time he's gone down on strikes in this one down go the twins in order but they still leave this one four to two seven tenning ready to roll and that'll give way to the veteran second baseman DJ LeMay here even though we're moving into the back end of this game they're only down by a couple of runs you know that old slogan of bloop in a blast they could certainly use that right now and he'll start the inning with a pitch that misses off the plate it's ball one a swing and a drive sent out toward the gap racing back to center fielder on the warning track he makes the catch the white people number ninety nine Aaron one gone here in the Yankee seventh and that will bring up the former American League rookie of the year big Aaron judge first pitch on its way count one and oh all two seventh inning here at the ballpark four to our score two tight with that one three and oh every baserunner in a close game like this really matters so you can't afford to be giving out free passes this late and this misses here for ball four just the second walk he's issued here into his seventh inning of work and with the bases and D and three balls I think they were probably just saying hey we're not going to compound our mistakes here better issue a free pass and give him something to drive. Corey Garrett takes the mound now and it appears he's being brought in to face the right handed batter who waits next number thirty 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 Giancarlo Stanton will be the first to greet him here as he'll stand in with a runner at first and one away he's set and the pitch finds the zone strike one Garen was known as a short relief specialist a guy who 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 and he takes ball two and it's two and one big sweeping breaking ball right there a good pitch but if he wants to get him to swing at it he'll have to bring it in a little bit closer to the strike zone look like he got pulled on the speed there two and two that's three straight sliders in a row I'd be shocked I would be shocked if he went to that well a fourth time I'd be looking here now the two to freezes him on the inside strike three now bad so stepping in it was a fly out for him in his last trip almost maddy almost went deep his last day be certainly just missed it with this guy's big power he's feeling pretty good at the dish look for him to try and get on something and drive it out of the yard this A.B. now the twins are going to get a lefty up and throwing in the bullpen 1 0 count here it is and he watches one miss outside 2 and 0 now after those two breaking balls missed you have to be sitting on a fastball right here to out with the man at first takes this the other way to right and that's in there base hit and that runner will go no further than second is there are two aboard now now bad guys right there you look here he says can a guy come in can he command then obviously not the case in this situation he went to the well outside half three times and eventually the batter made a nice adjustment into the box Gary Sanchez and then this could be a real maker break situation at this point in the game yeah man at least scoring one run in this inning is so important to them to possibly get back into this thing baseball doesn't have a good clock but you only have twenty seven outs to work with they're running out of those pretty quick here comes the first pitch and a sliders in the dirt as he lays off it for a ball well the Yankees have been searching for that big hit pretty much all game it remains to see if they could get it but now it sure would be a good time I love the fact that this batter continues to be aggressive but after striking out twice already maybe he's got to take a step back see the ball a little bit deeper and be careful with the count there's male two is the slider dips below the zone trying to hang a zero here's the pitch got him and he goes down on strikes for the third time. The Yankees ran to bear for the trailer here four to two straight designated to make else. So far two for three in this one. He down. Done. No. The referee to him on the way off the plate and away from one ball no strikes well behind that fastball it's a swinging strike ready to deal here's the one one and he misses two and one fouled away here now the two two swung on and missed he got him on strikes the catcher number in the box now. Mitch Garver in his last batter popped out in foul ground that we used to have a saying right here you would stride to the plate for this ball to be trying to chop wood not in today's game you just want to get your back playing on the same path of the ball can't continue to swing under those elevated heaters that misses wide one ball and one strike one out nobody on two and one now here's the pitch ripped down the line but this will wind up a foul ball two and two he's going to be thinking about that pitch all night if he doesn't know what to do with the game right here pulled his front shoulder and everything went with it and a swing and a misses they got him with the slider there two away I'll tell you it's hard to get more of a confidence boost and striking out the best hitters in the lineup back to back to back he's looking really sharp right now at the plate Max Kepler and he takes ball one he could really use a knock here over three in right side defense a line perfectly loved by the major and that will conclude matters here in the seventh. Twins are set down one two three as they can't add to their four to two lead Joe May has been summoned from the ball pen as he'll do so to start the eighth number sixty five rubber begin the eighth and striding into the plate it looks like he's going to throw in Duvarr Miguel and ready with the first pitch here it comes fastball was too much for him there swung right through it looked like he was going to wait him out see if he was going to come over the heart of the plate. Well newsflash he is and this hitters going to adjust his batting gloves and he better be ready in the box comes set and the 0 1 and it's fouled away tried to get him to go after the slider but it's one and two now their closers starts to get loose out there swing and a miss on the slider and that's out number one good job of making him chase a pitch for the strike out there. Yeah Matt that's the advantage of getting ahead and account you can really force hitters to expand their zone and protect and when they're in that mode getting them to go after a pitch they can't do much with becomes a lot easier standing in now Mike Tuckman and he'll watch one miss up and away for a ball one and all he's hitless in the box to this point the 1 0 is swung on and missed in that strike one getting late for to our score as we play the eighth inning and a good eye as he lays off and the count moves to two and one now on the Yankee left fielder. He fouls this one off now the two two and another foul ball here's the pitch on two and two and he strikes him out as well. So make it back to back Kays and he's making it look pretty easy. This has the makings of a good outing so far into the box now look void. This will take a look at a slider here that finds the zone for strike one. He's working on a one for three thus far over the top with that ball and it's own two one pitch away from wrapping up a very good innings work out of the bullpen. No problems for him on the Mount since he's come out of the pen to start this inning. That's back to back Kays and the innings work out of the bullpen here looking to set down the side on strikes here it comes. Slider freezes him at the plate a called third strike and the ending comes to a close three up three down three strikeouts not too shabby. We're back to Friday night baseball on the show after this. Tommy Keenley is on to pitch out of the bullpen in the bottom half of the eighth Tommy Keenley bottom of the inning now and digging in is the outfielder Eddie Rosario left fielder Eddie Rosario first pitch of the at bat on its way swaying in a line drive and that gets down and ought to be good for extra bases. He takes the turn and heads per second. The throw is wild and it gets away the batter the third close here but he comes through in the eighth to extend his hitting streak. Yeah and he was staring at his last at bat right there probably his last at bat would have been tough to get him another AB in this one but he's able to get it done. Hey better late than ever and I'm sure when he walked in that batter's box right there he's thinking this very well could be my last AB of this game. So if I'm going to keep this streak alive I'm going to have to do it right now. Here comes the first pitch and he held up in time but that becomes moot as it's a cold strike to this is going to be an interesting at bat. I think he has to be pitching for a strike out here so we'll see what kind of sequence he uses the 0 2 pitch swing and a miss at one in the dirt and he makes the throw to first Donaldson is retired and there's one away that batter number that was a nice job battery made to complete the plate first after the ball hit the dirt. The second one away and into bat next the utility man extraordinaire Marwan Gonzalez here's the first pitch to him drops in a strike to start the at bat nothing in one it's pretty tough for a hitter to go up there looking for a first pitch change up and a good job of dropping it in for strike one stuff on the corner and he's got a moment to now. Hey with first base open pitchers definitely going to nibble and try and see if the hitter expands his own runner at second here with one man up hold toward right center field Gardner is there and he makes the catch for the second out and no tag at second he'll head back there with two away now the batter number two second baseman Louis so digging in now Luis Arias runner in scoring position with two gone trying to keep the game close. Here's the pitch the one pitch on its way swung on and missed that strike to this guy's got an eighty nine mile an hour change up there was a time when eighty nine was a pretty good fastball high fly ball out to straight away center Gardner is there and the ending is over one left for Minnesota but they still lead this one four to two Taylor Rogers comes on from the pen hoping to finish this one off here in the top of the ninth number fifty five Taylor top of the Yankee order digging in Gardner looks like a tall order trying to hire take the lead against this guy who leads the league and saves good swing there by Gardner as he hooks this one foul down into the seats in right taken off the outside as the breaking ball couldn't catch the corner Rogers is exactly what he's got of a bullpen arm it's a rare occasion that anyone squares him up he doesn't give up a lot of hits and when he does they're almost always kept in the yard Matty B there are two keys to being a good relief pitcher and always remember these one limit the base on balls to keep the ball in the ballpark you can't defend a walk and you can't defend a round tripper and he does both and he'll hang in here as he reaches to file this one away the one two is missed he got him so the lead off man gone to start at the top of the night as we take a look at the league saves leaders entering play and as you can see there he currently leads the A.L. in that department late DJ La Mayhew he flew out in his last at bat ready with the first pitch here it comes in there for strike one lays off the slider and it's one and one umpire says he held up ball to nip the corner two and two now this boss lifted in the air down the right field line but this will get back into the seats so the count holds at two and two bases are empty one man on the third baseline Donaldson's there on the first in time and the Yankees are down to their final out now the right number ninety nine Aaron stepping up now Aaron judge he comes to the plate as the last chance for his side two out here in the ninth outfield in the no doubles defense now the first pitch you have to find a way in this situation to look in that on deck circle and find a way to get your best hitter to the plate with a chance to tie it ball in a strike I was swinging a ground ball this should do it first year is going to do it and the twins come back to even up this series at a game of peace says this ball game is over and he puts a ball on this one to end it how about his twenty fifth save of the season he's proven to be a solid tool at the back of the bullpen and every team needs one of those four to two of the final score tonight the Minnesota Twins took the lead in the fourth and held on until the end rich Hill earns the victory in relief in this one his seventh of the year Taylor Rogers wraps it up for the save his league best player of the season so that's a wrap here tonight for Mark Derosa Dan please act and Heidi Watney this is Matt Vaskersen you've been watching MLB the show for more find us on Twitter at MLB the show.