Volpe Heroics Wasted As Yanks Blow Chances in Extras. Minnesota 5 NY 4 in 13

September 17, 2026 paperbacklou 2026 0
Anthony Volpe ties the game 2-2 with a 2-out, 2-RBI double in 9th -- hitting the ball off the right-field wall.

Anthony Volpe got a CLUTCH 2-out, 2-RBI double in the 9th inning to tie the game 2-2 — but the Yanks wasted several chances to win the game in extras and eventually lost, 5-4 in 13 innings when a grounder went under George Lombard Jr.‘s glove in the 13th for a walkoff RBI single. On a Wednesday afternoon in Minnesota.

The Yankees took the lead with a run in the top of the 10th and in the top of the 11th, but Minnesota tied the game in the bottom half of both innings. The Yankees loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the 12th — but didn’t score after Heliot Ramos hit into a doubleplay — pitcher to catcher to 1st.

John Schreiber pitched a shutout 12th, and got an easy grounder up the middle by Victor Caratini to start the 13th — but it went under the glove of a charging Lombard Jr. and into centerfield for the ballgame. Lombard had made 2 terrific plays in the 9th and the 10th to start inning-ending doubleplays.

Aaron Judge was pinch-hit for in the 6th — after grimacing during a checked swing in his 2nd at bat in the 3rd — which sent panic up and down Yankee Universe for a couple of innings that he had re-injured his rib that kept him out 2 months — until it was reported that he left after after feeling tightness in his lower right leg.

Carlos Rodon started for NY and didn’t have his best stuff but managed 6 innings of 4-hit, 2-run ball. He was bested by Zebby Matthews, who pitched 6 innings of 2-hit shutout ball, striking out 8.

And Clarke Schmidt returned to the mound for the first time in a year and a half, after Tommy John surgery. He relieved Rodon and pitched in the 7th, getting 2 outs and allowing 2 hits.

On a sour note, Spencer Jones went 0-6 with 5 K’s. Ryan McMahon went 0-6 with 4 K’s.

“He said after he hit and went out in the field, he felt tight,” said manager Aaron Boone about Judge. “It’s the lower leg. He’ll get treatment and we’ll see what we got. Obviously he’s a key figure to what we do — hopefully we get it treated and knock it out and he’ll be a factor at some point.”

NY falls to 88-64 and drops to 4.5 behind Tampa, which won later. Minnesota improves to 71-81.

1. Rodon “Pitches” Well

Carlos Rodon didn’t have his best stuff, but pitched through it and pitched well. Rodon:

  • Allowed a single, walk, and then an RBI single to Josh Bell in the 1st for a 1-0 Twins lead.
  • Worked around a leadoff walk in the 2nd, then got in rhythm and pitched a 1-2-3 shutout 3rd.

  • Allowed a leadoff single in the 4th, but got out of the inning when Emmanuel Rodriguez lined into a double play — 1st to 2nd.
  • Allowed a solo HR to Ryan Kreidler in the 5th to make it 2-0 Minnesota, and gave up a double to next batter Ben Ross who went to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt. But with 1 out, runner on 3rd Rodon got Austin Martin to hit a grounder to short, and Ross was thrown out at home trying to score.
  • Finished with a shutout 6th — working around a 1-out walk.

Rodon’s line: 6 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 5 K’s, 3 walks.

Volpe’s game-tying double with 2 outs in the 9th prevented Rodon from taking a loss, and instead get a no decision. His record is now 6-3 2.95.

2. Matthews Stifles Yanks with 6 Shutout Innings

Meanwhile Zebby Matthews was Tough. The 26-year-old, 6’5 righthander was throwing 97-MPH Smoke with a tough slider, good curveball and offspeed pitch.

The Yanks got 2 baserunners on Zebby in the 3rd with a 2-out single by Ben Rice and walk to Cody Bellinger — and that was their biggest threat. Matthews pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 2nd, 4th and 5th innings.

Zebby allowed a leadoff walk to Ben Rice in the 6th, but then got fly out, strikeout, and strikeout to end his day. He didn’t get a decision — his record is now 9-10 4.74.

3. Schmidt Pitches for 1st Time this Year

Clarke Schmidt came in for Rodon to start the bottom of the 7th. He struck out Kreidler but then allowed 2 consecutive singles, before striking out Martin — and leaving for Brent Headrick, who struck out the lefty Ryan Jeffers.

Brent Headrick then stayed in to pitch a 1-2-3 shutout 8th, keeping the score 2-0 Minny.

4. Volpe CLUTCH 2-RBI Double with 2 Out in 9th

And so it was to the top of the 9th with the Yankees staring at a 2-0 deficit. Former Yank Yoendrys Gomez took the hill for Minnesota. The 26-year-old, 6’3 righthander started the year with Tampa and was traded to Minnesota in May where he has become their ace reliever. He has 22 saves this year and 61 K’s in 63 innings.

Gomez began the inning by striking out Spencer Jones.

George Lombard Jr. singled to left to give NY hope, but Ryan McMahon struck out — and it was up to Anthony Volpe.

And with 2 outs, Volpe delivered with a smash off the right-field wall — just missing a HR — but tying the game with a 2-RBI double!

Ben Rice walked after Volpe’s double. But with Cody Bellinger due up, Minnesota replaced Gomez with Kody Funderburk and he got Bellinger to ground out to 1st.

Paul Blackburn came in for the bottom of the 9th, after Volpe had tied the game. Blackburn allowed a 1-out walk, but George Lombard Jr. made a terrific play at 2nd to start an inning-ending doubleplay and send the game to extras.

5. Yanks Take Lead in 10th, But Twins Tie It

All was looking good for the Yanks when Ali Sanchez singled with 1 out in the top of the 10th off 6’1 righty Travis Adams to put them ahead 3-2!

But David Bednar couldn’t hold it — allowing a leadoff single to Luke Keaschall to lead off the bottom of the 10th for a tie game.

Bednar then got in trouble — allowing a bunt single by Austin Martin to put runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out. But he struck out Ryan Jeffers, and got Josh Bell to hit the ball up the middle — where George Lombard Jr. made another fine play to turn an inning-ending doubleplay!

6. Yanks Take Lead in 11th, But Twins Tie It

The Yanks took the lead again in the top of the 11th off Adams — Ryan McMahon hit a grounder to 1st to advance the inherited runner, and Jose Caballero hit a sac fly for a 4-3 Yankee lead!

Bednar stayed in to try and get the save.

But Kody Clemens began the 11th with a liner to shortstop that Lombard dove for but couldn’t nab — it went for a single and moved the inherited runner to 3rd, where he scored on a sac fly by Royce Lewis to tie the score.

7. Yanks Load Bases with Nobody Out in 12th — But Don’t Score

Travis Adams stayed in for the 12th — and walked Ben Rice to start the inning, then allowed a single to center by Bellinger to load the bases with nobody out.

But Heliot Ramos hit a grounder right back to Adams who started a double play — home to 1st.

Ali Sanchez then struck out with runners on 2nd and 3rd to end the threat.

John Schreiber pitched the bottom of the 12th for the Yanks — and intentionally walked Lee, then picked the inherited runner — Kreidler — off 2nd. Schreiber then got a double play to end the inning.

8. Twins Walk It Off As DP Grounder Goes Under Lombard’s Glove

And so it was to the 13th with 6’6 righty Travis Nance on the mound for the Twins. Spencer Jones struck out to start the top of the inning off, failing to advance the inherited runner. Lombard then grounded out to shortstop and McMahon struck out again.

Schreiber stayed in for the bottom of the 13th, and got leadoff batter Victor Caratini to hit a grounder up the middle — UNDER George Lombard Jr’s glove for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401816968

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