Rodon’s Rookie Replacement Torched; Defense & Doval Fuel Fire. Minny 11 NY 4

July 5, 2026 paperbacklou 2026 0
The Martian hits a solo HR in the 4th to make it a 6-1 game.

With Carlos Rodon on the 15-day Injury List due to left elbow inflammation, the Yankees started rookie Brendan Beck — who is having a fine year in AAA with a 7-2 3.07 record.

But he got waxed for 5 early runs, and the Yankee defense and Camilo Doval coughed up 4 runs in the 8th for an 11-4 pasting by the Twins on a HOT, BARNBURNER (99-degree) Saturday, July 4th afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

Down 6-0 early, the Yanks came ‘this close’ to tying the game twice — a Cody Bellinger drive that hit off the bottom of the wall in right center in the 5th that went for an RBI double but was 2 feet from being a game-tying, 3-run HR. And a bases-loaded, 1-out situation in the 6th with NY down 6-4, where a single would have tied the game. But a strikeout and fly out followed.

“He relies on elite command, and getting it to where he wants,” said manager Aaron Boone about the rookie Beck. “And it looked like just some mistakes with some secondary in the strike zone. Had some swing and miss going today throughout, but hard time putting guys away and obviously some big swings against him.”

NY drops to 49-39, losers of 8 of 9 and are 4 games back of Tampa. Minnesota improves to 43-47.

1. Beck Clobbered

Brendan Beck is a 27-year-old, 6’2 righthander who the Yanks drafted 55th overall out of Stanford in 2021 after went 9-3 3.15 as a senior — striking 143 batters to lead the Pac-12, and winning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year. After joining the Yankees, he underwent Tommy John surgery in late 2021 and missed what should have been his first full Yankees season in 2022.

He looked good in 2023, but had another elbow operation and missed all of 2024. In 2025 he went 13-5 3.36 across 131 1/3 innings in AA Somerset and AAA Scranton, leading all Yankee minor leaguers in wins and WHIP.

Beck is the younger brother of Tristan Beck who pitches for the San Francisco Giants.

He made his first appearance in MLB in May — pitching well in a relief appearance for the Yanks. He is currently the 21st best prospect in the Yankee organization but has unofficially moved up with his 7-2 3.07 season so far in AAA.

The Yanks brought Beck up as a spot starter because Carlos Rodon was just placed on the 15-day IL with heavy inflammation in his left elbow — the Yankees happy about that news that broke on Friday, July 3rd because an MRI revealed his UCL is in tact.

Max Fried is also out, and Luis Gil just started a throwing program on June 13th after being shut down on May 7th with shoulder inflammation.

Long First Inning in the HOT SUN

And so the Yanks turned to Beck — a control pitcher whose fastball tops out around 94. He is known for good control and his low-80s slider is his best pitch. He does well when he lands strikes early and finishes hitters with the breaking ball.

Not this game.

On a HOT, BARNBURNER of a July 4th afternoon at the Stadium — with temps heading for 99 degrees in the shade — Burk walked the first batter of the game — leftfielder Trevor Larnach. Next batter Byron Buxton doubled him home, and next batter Kody Clemens homered to right center and it was 3-0 just like that.

The 2nd inning was just as bad — consecutive solo HR’s to 2nd baseman Luke Keaschall and catcher Alex Jackson and it was 5-0 Minnesota. Brutal.

After that Beck settled down, getting the last 2 outs of the 2nd, pitching around a leadoff double to throw a shutout 3rd, and getting the first 2 outs of the 4th before handing the ball to Tim Hill. His line: 3.2 innings, 5 hits, 5 runs.

“Obviously not good results; putting us in a hole early; making the defense stand out there for a long time in the first; taking the crowd out of it,” said Beck afterwards. “Not the way we want to start the game on an exciting day at the Yard. Putting us in that early hole sucks. Felt I was able to find a rhythm at the end but ultimately got to get that rhythm going first pitch.”

2. Hill Coughs Up HR — Yanks Down 6-0 in 4th

And so Tim Hill came in with 2 outs in the 4th, and the first batter he faced — Trevor Larnach — ripped a 360-foot HR to right for a 6-0 Minny lead.

3. The Martian HR Makes It 6-1 in 4th

The Twins had Zebby Matthews on the mound — the 26-year-old, 6’5 righty.

He had a shutout going into the 4th when Jasson Dominguez got NY on the board with a solo HR to right center. Minnesota 6 NY 1.

4. Schuemann HR, Bellinger Double Make It 6-4 in 5th

Ryan McMahon worked a 1-out walk off Matthews in the 5th, and Max Schuemann followed with a 418-foot HR to right center and it was a ballgame again — Minnesota 6 NY 3.

Matthews got a 2nd out — but Trent Grisham worked a walk and stole 2nd, and Ben Rice worked a walk — sending Matthews to the showers.

Travis Adams — a 6’1 righty — came in to pitch, and Cody Bellinger greeted him with a drive to right center that Just Missed being a 3-run HR to tie the game — it hit off the base of the wall and went for an RBI double, making it a 6-4 game.

With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Jasson Dominguez grounded out to end the inning.

5. NY Loads Bases in 6th But Rally Fizzles

The Yanks went right back at Adams in the bottom of the 5th — Anthony Volpe led off with a single, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. laid down a perfect bunt single.

Ryan McMahon grounded out to 2nd to move the runners, and Max Shuemann walked to load the bases with 1 out. A single would have tied the game.

But Amed Rosario struck out on a 3-2 high fastball, and lefty Taylor Rogers came in and got Paul Goldschmidt to fly out to left.

6. Yarbrough Allows HR in 7th for 7-4 Game

And then Ryan Yarbrough allowed a HR to DH Josh Bell leading off the 7th and the Yanks were put back a run — Minnesota 7 NY 4.

7. Jazz & Doval Allow 4 Unearned Runs in 8th

And then the Yanks imploded in the 8th with Camilo Doval on the mound. Jazz Chisholm Jr. muffed an easy grounder to start the inning.

Doval struck out the next batter, but allowed a 1-out single to right. Centerfielder Byron Buxton hit a sac fly for an 8-4 game — the fly should have been the last out of the inning if not for the Jazz error.

And then Doval allowed a single to Kody Clemens, and Josh Bell ripped a 3-run HR to right center for an 11-4 game.

8. Yank Fans Chant USA & Other Things in HOT July 4th SUN

If you’ve ever been to Yankee Stadium on a HOT BARNBURNER of a day — and had a seat in the upper deck — you know how much of a BARNBURNER it is.

In the background on the radio you could hear Yankee fans chanting during the afternoon “USA, USA, USA” to honor the July 4th and the 250th Anniversary of the country.

By the 8th inning in the 11-4 game, you could hear the chant change to things like “WEMBY SUCKS!”. Was funny.

9. Twins Bullpen Closes It

Taylor Rogers and Andrew Morris combined for a shutout 7th.

Marco Raya pitched around a walk and a single to throw a shutout 8th, then retired the Yanks in order in the 9th for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401816017

 

 

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