A Win Is a Win — Again. NY 10 Minnesota 5

September 18, 2025 paperbacklou 2025 0
Trent Grisham with the first of 2 HR's on the night -- this one his 32nd of the year, tying the game 2-2 in the 3rd.

In a game that mirrored the night before, the Yankees took a big early lead — this time 7-2 by the 4th inning — only to have their starting pitcher — this time Luis Gil — not be able to get the last out of the 5th inning — making it a close game — this time 7-5.

And just like the night before, the Yanks got good late-inning relief pitching — this time from Fernando Cruz, Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, and Camilo Doval — to persevere. This time the Yanks scored insurance runs late to win 10-5 — on a Thursday night in Minnesota.

There were some minor differences — the night before reliever Ryan Yarbrough contributed to the loss of the big 10-1 lead, while all the Yankee relievers in this game combined to shut out Minny the last 4 innings. And in this game Trent Grisham hit 2 HR’s, vs 1 the night before.

“Two great nights offensively,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards. “Starting with Grish at the top just having 2 big nights, and Judge doing his thing all over the bases. A lot of great contributions; finishing with a Belli Bomb tonite. Just really good offense; good on the bases; stealing bases. After that 1st one where we got beat up a little bit, good to answer back.”

NY takes 2 of 3 in the series after losing the 1st game 7-0, and improves to 85-67 — pulling to within 4 of Toronto, and remaining 2 ahead of Boston. Minnesota falls to 66-86.

1. Bellinger Puts Yanks Ahead in 1st

Minnesota started 24-year-old, 6’2 righty Taj Bradley, who came in with a 5-8 4.88 record, and the Yanks went right after him in the 1st: a 2-out double by Aaron Judge and an RBI single by next batter Cody Bellinger. Yankees 1 Twins 0.

2. Grisham HR #1 Ties It in 3rd

Luis Gil gave back the lead in the bottom of the 2nd — Minnesota jumping on top 2-1.

But Trent Grisham evened things with a 432-foot BOMB to right in the top of the 3rd for a 2-2 tie. Grisham had been in a 2-week slump before jumping out of it the night before with a HR.

3. Yanks Take 7-2 Lead Via 4-Run 4th

And then the Yanks put 4 runs on the board in the top of the 4th to seemingly break the game open.

Paul Goldschmidt hit a 1-out double to right, and Jasson Dominguez hit a double to center to drive him home and make it 3-2 NY.

Jose Caballero walked and Trent Grisham hit his 2nd HR of the night — a 393-foot bomb to right for a 6-2 Yankee lead.

Ben Rice followed with a double to right, Aaron Judge singled to left to move Rice to 3rd — and Rice scored on a balk by Taj Bradley. Yankees 7 Twins 2.

4. Gil Can’t Get Last Out of 5th

Luis Gil meanwhile, was a bit shaky all night — allowing at least one baserunner in every inning.  Gil gave up:

  • A 1-out single in the 1st, but got a double play to end it.
  • 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd — allowing a 1-out walk, then a single by Brooks Lee, and an RBI single by Royce Lewis for a 1-1 game. A groundout moved the runners, and a passed ball by Ben Rice allowed a 2nd run to score making it 2-1 Minnesota.
  • A leadoff double by Byron Buxton in the 3rd, then hit Austin Martin with a pitch putting runners on 1st and 2nd and nobody out — but got a double play and a groundout to end the inning.
  • A 2-out single in the 4th — but got the final out. The inning would have been worse had Jazz Chisholm Jr. not made a spectacular play at 2nd for the 2nd out.

  • A leadoff single in the 5th — but got ground out and strike out and was ‘this close’ to being out of the inning with a 7-2 lead.

But he allowed a single to Trevor Larnach, RBI single to Luke Keaschall, walk to James Outman to load the bases, and a 2-RBI single to Brooks Lee making it a 7-5 game — and was yanked.

5. Fernando Great Under Pressure

Fernando Cruz came into the 7-5 game with 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd — and got Royce Lewis to line out to right to keep the score 7-5. Phew.

Cruz then pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 6th — keeping the score right there at 7-5.

6. Devin Great Under Pressure

Devin Williams pitched the 7th — and allowed a leadoff single to Martin — before striking out the next 3 batters swinging — Larnach, Keaschall, and Outman — keeping the score right there at 7-5.

7. Weaver Great Under Pressure

NY scored a run in the top of the 8th — so Luke Weaver had an additional run to play with as he entered for the bottom of the 8th — NY up 8-5.

Weaver allowed a leadoff single by Lee to right — but then got fly out, lineout, and strike out (of Clemens swinging) to keep the score right there at 8-5 NY.

8. Yanks Get Insurance in 8th & 9th

The Yanks got a huge insurance run in the top of the 8th against Cole Sands. Jasson Dominguez was hit by a pitch with 1 out, then stole 2nd and went to 3rd on a throwing error by catcher Jhonny Pereda.

Ryan McMahon then singled in The Martian for an 8-5 Yankee lead.

In the top of the 9th the Yanks got 2 more insurance runs against Genesis Cabrera — a 1-out single by Aaron Judge, and 2-run HR by next batter Cody Bellinger. NY 10 Minny 5.

9. Doval Wraps Up

Camilo Doval pitched the bottom of the 9th in the 10-5 game, and pitched a 1-2-3 inning: strike out, foul out, strike out swinging of Larnach for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401697187

 

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