Twins hit six home runs, hand Yankees eighth loss in nine games as pitching injuries mount
Josh Bell homered twice and Minnesota hit six home runs for the first time since 2023, beating New York 11-4 on Saturday as the Yankees' rotation crisis deepened with Carlos Rodón joining Max Fried on the injured list.
Six-homer barrage
The Minnesota Twins hit six home runs in a game for the first time since September 4, 2023, powering an 11-4 victory over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Kody Clemens, Luke Keaschall and Alex Jackson all went deep in the first two innings off rookie starter Brendan Beck, staking Minnesota to a 6-0 lead. Trevor Larnach also homered, and Josh Bell added two late shots, a solo homer to left in the seventh and a three-run blast to right-center in the eighth after a Jazz Chisholm error extended the inning. It was Bell's 13th career multihomer game and second this season. Byron Buxton, back after missing four games with a hip impingement, added a sacrifice fly and scored twice.
- Twins
- 6
- Yankees
- 2
The Yankees, who had snapped a seven-game losing streak on Friday, allowed six homers for the first time since August 15, 2019. Jasson Domínguez and Max Schuemann hit solo and two-run homers, respectively, to pull New York within 6-4 in the fifth, but the bullpen could not hold. New York also committed two errors, its 19th in the last 14 games.
Matthews exits with foot injury
Twins starter Zebby Matthews left in the fifth inning with a right foot laceration. He winced after a 95 mph fastball and was checked by manager Derek Shelton and a trainer, but stayed in briefly before walking Ben Rice and departing. Matthews allowed four runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings. Taylor Rogers (4-3) escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth by retiring pinch hitter Paul Goldschmidt.
- Kody Clemens homers off Brendan Beck, giving Twins a 1-0 lead.
- Luke Keaschall and Alex Jackson hit back-to-back homers; Twins lead 6-0.
- Jasson Domínguez homers for the Yankees, cutting deficit to 6-1.
- Max Schuemann hits a two-run homer; Yankees pull within 6-4. Zebby Matthews exits with foot injury.
- Josh Bell homers to left off Ryan Yarbrough, extending Twins lead to 7-4.
- Bell hits a three-run homer off Camilo Doval after a Jazz Chisholm error; Twins lead 11-4.
Yankees' pitching crisis deepens
New York's rotation, already missing Max Fried (elbow bone bruise), lost Carlos Rodón to the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation before the game. Manager Aaron Boone said Rodón might resume throwing within a week but offered no firm timeline. Beck, recalled from Triple-A to start in Rodón's place, was hit hard: five runs on five hits, including three homers and two doubles, over 3 2/3 innings. His fastball averaged 92.7 mph and he struggled with location.
With (Rodón) going down, you're really tapping into the depth there a little bit today. Again, though, that's part of the long season.
Fried is scheduled for a two-inning simulated game Sunday, but Boone indicated the left-hander would need to be built up slowly, with a decision on his return likely weeks away. The Yankees have lost eight of nine and face questions about whether to seek rotation help before the August 3 trade deadline.
What's next
The series concludes Sunday with Minnesota's Joe Ryan (5-5, 3.61 ERA) opposing New York's Ryan Weathers (3-6, 4.08). Weathers has already thrown 88 1/3 innings this season, approaching his career high, adding another layer of concern for a staff under strain.
