Fresh off a stellar West Coast road trip where they went 7-2 over three series, the American League’s top team returned to the Bronx this week to host the Minnesota Twins.
After a solid 5-1 win on Tuesday night, the Yankees followed up with a 9-5 victory over the Twins on Wednesday, securing yet another series win.
This triumph pushed the Yankees’ record to 44-19, the best in the American League and tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the best in baseball. And they’ve achieved this without their ace, Gerrit Cole.
On the mound for the Yankees was lefty Carlos Rodon, who is making a strong case for Comeback Player of the Year. Rodon delivered another impressive performance, looking every bit like the pitcher the Yankees signed to a hefty $150 million deal, rather than the one hampered by injuries in 2023.
Rodon pitched six solid innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs without walking any batters, while striking out a season-high nine. He was perfect through 5.1 innings before surrendering a solo home run to Carlos Santana.
Rodon threw 100 pitches, 65 of them strikes, and generated 18 swings and misses, lowering his season ERA to 3.08.
Offensively, the Yankees continued to dominate. Aaron Judge had a standout night with a bases-clearing triple down the left field line, finishing with a team-high five RBIs.
Anthony Volpe notched three hits, raising his season average to .290, while Juan Soto reached base three times. Giancarlo Stanton also contributed with two hits, including a scorching 115.5 MPH RBI single.
The Yankees are on a roll, combining strong pitching and explosive hitting to maintain their spot at the top of the league standings.
Yankees vs Twins game final score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| MIN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| NYY | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 | 9 | 0 |
Yankees vs Twins: Scoring summary, highlights June 5
Final Score: Yankees 9, Twins 5
The Yankees extended their winning streak to seven games, with Michael Tonkin striking out Trevor Larnach and Byron Buxton to seal the victory.
Bottom of the Ninth: Michael Tonkin took over from Dennis Santana and secured the win by striking out Trevor Larnach and Byron Buxton.
End of the Eighth: Yankees 9, Twins 5 Anthony Volpe showcased his speed with his sixth triple of the season, trailing only Derek Jeter’s seven triples through the first 63 games of a Yankees season in 1999.
Middle of the Eighth: Yankees 9, Twins 5 Carlos Correa grounded out to second base, driving in Kyle Farmer after he moved to third on a wild pitch. Farmer had started the inning with a leadoff double.
Middle of the Seventh: Yankees 9, Twins 4 Byron Buxton’s RBI groundout brought Jose Miranda home after Miranda tripled to center field. Earlier in the inning, Royce Lewis hit a solo home run to left field.
End of the Sixth: Yankees 9, Twins 2 Aaron Judge continued his hot streak with a bases-loaded walk, bringing his RBI total for the night to five. Earlier, Austin Wells and DJ LeMahieu walked to set the stage.
Middle of the Sixth: Yankees 8, Twins 2 Carlos Rodon exited after giving up a sac fly to Carlos Correa, scoring Kyle Farmer. Rodon finished with an impressive line, highlighted by his perfect bid through 5.1 innings.
End of the Fifth: Yankees 8, Twins 0 Aaron Judge’s bases-clearing triple and Alex Verdugo’s sac fly padded the Yankees’ lead. Juan Soto’s walk had loaded the bases for Judge.
Middle of the Fifth: Yankees 4, Twins 0 Carlos Rodon was perfect through five innings, racking up eight strikeouts.
Middle of the Fourth: Yankees 4, Twins 0 Juan Soto made a spectacular catch against the wall in foul territory, maintaining Rodon’s perfect game bid.
Middle of the Third: Yankees 4, Twins 0 Carlos Rodon continued his dominance, adding to his strikeout total.
Middle of the Second: Yankees 4, Twins 0 Alex Verdugo showcased his defensive skills with a highlight-reel catch in left field.
End of the First: Yankees 4, Twins 0 Gleyber Torres hit a two-out, ground-rule double, scoring Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton. Giancarlo Stanton also contributed with an RBI single. Aaron Judge grounded out to second, bringing in Anthony Volpe for the first run of the game.
Carlos Rodon’s performance, coupled with strong offensive support, propelled the Yankees to a decisive victory, cementing their position as the top team in the American League.
