NEW YORK – One always hears about how the Twins can’t beat the Yankees – and for a good reason. Going into Wednesday’s action, New York was 125-44 against Minnesota since the start of the 2002 season.
Even worse, dating back to April 25, 2023, the Twins had lost nine straight games to the Yankees, but the streak came to an end with a 4-1 victory at Yankee Stadium.
Before the game, there was a one-hour, 52-minute rain delay. Twins ace Joe Ryan was able to get his pregame work done and take a nap before the game started at 8:57 p.m. ET. Taking the snooze seemed to work. Leave it to Ryan to help the Twins have a happy flight back to Minnesota to play a four-game series against the Tigers. He pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven batters. Ryan’s only blemish was allowing a third-inning home run to Cody Bellinger that gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead.
But after allowing the long ball, Ryan retired 12 of the next 14 hitters before leaving the game in the seventh inning in favor of left-hander Kody Funderburk, who was able to strike out Austin Wells to end the inning.
Starting in the first inning, Ryan (12-5) gave the Yankees a sign that it was going to be a long night. He struck out Aaron Judge on a fastball that was clocked at 97.7 mph, his highest velocity of the season.
"It's a really unique pitch. It really is," Bellinger said of Ryan's fastball. "There's few guys in the league that are close to it. It's a tough AB and he locates really well."
Said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, “He is the guy. He is doing a fantastic job. He showed again why he is one of the best pitchers in the league.”
With the score tied at 1, the Twins took the lead off New York’s bullpen in the top of the sixth inning. With runners on first and second and right-hander Yerry De los Santos on the mound, Kody Clemens doubled to right-center field to score Byron Buxton and Luke Keaschall to give Minnesota a 3-1 lead.
Later in the inning, Royce Lewis added to the scoring when he doubled down the left-field line to send Clemens home.
“It’s something we have been looking for in this series,” Baldelli said. “The top of the lineup does a nice job getting things going. Kody Clemens cleans it up. He goes out there and delivers a big hit.
“You kind of release a long breath almost after a hit like that. You got a guy on the mound in Joe throwing a tremendous game. You want to do something for him. You want to put it together and make that happen, and our guys did.”
Minnesota relievers Funderburk and Justin Topa pitched the final 2 1/3 innings without allowing a run. They had extra motivation to do well. The relievers spoke to Clemens’ dad, Roger Clemens, in the bullpen before the game. The man who won seven Cy Young Awards during his career was teaching the pitchers about the mental part of the game.
Clemens talked to the relief corps because they are a much younger group now, after the team traded veteran relievers like Jhoan Duran, Brock Stewart and Griffin Jax before the July 31 MLB Trade Deadline.
“[Clemens] was out there talking about his mentality, routine, what made him dominate. It was pretty cool,” Topa said. “ … Hearing how he attacked guys and pitching inside, it was a good thing for all of our guys.”
The Twins finally got a victory against the Yankees, and Ryan enjoyed pitching in the house that George Steinbrenner built.
“It’s always fun,” Ryan said. “I always like coming here. It’s a special place to play baseball, so you want to beat their [butt] every time. It’s fun. I like going into the city, coming around and having a good time and getting good food. It’s always a trip I look forward to.”