Twins' error hands Yankees 2-1 victory
NEW YORK -- Starlin Castro's ground ball off shortstop Eduardo Escobar's glove allowed the tiebreaking run to score with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, lifting the New York Yankees to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
After wasting a scoring opportunity in the seventh when Carlos Beltran grounded into a force play with Brett Gardner on base, the Yankees went ahead in the eighth against Ryan Pressly (2-4).
Alex Rodriguez, who heard boos for two strikeouts and flied out to right on a 3-and-0 count for the final out of the fifth, opened the inning with a slow roller that went for an infield hit when third baseman Eduardo Nunez could not make a play.
Brian McCann's single into right field put runners at first and third for Mark Teixeira. Batting from the left side of the plate, Teixeira fouled off four straight full count pitches before hearing boos for a strikeout on the 10th pitch.
On the next pitch with the Twins playing the infield in, Castro hit a hard grounder that deflected off the front of Escobar's glove for an error, allowing pinch runner Aaron Hicks to score the tiebreaking run.
Didi Gregorius followed with a single to load the bases but Yankees were unable to add more when McCann was thrown out at home by left fielder Robbie Grossman on a fly ball.
New York challenged the call and following a review the call was upheld.
Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman each pitched a scoreless inning for the Yankees. It was the 12th time the hard-throwing trio pitched in the same game and the Yankees have won each time.
Betances pitched in a tie game and kept the deadlock by throwing nine pitches to get two groundouts and a strikeout. Miller (5-0) also pitched when the game was tied and needed 12 pitches to get two strikeouts and a groundout.
Chapman recorded his 15th save in 16 opportunities. He gave up a two-out single to Joe Mauer but ended the game by striking out Brian Dozier on a 100 mph fastball.
Minnesota held a 1-0 lead when Dozier homered into the left field bleachers to open the second against Michael Pineda. Dozier's ninth home run came after Ervin Santana worked out of a first and second jam in the first.
The Yankees tied the game with three straight two-out singles in the fifth when Beltran drove in Jacoby Ellsbury with a line drive single up the middle on a 3-and-1 count. Rodriguez was unable to prolong the inning as he flied out to deep right on a 3-and-0 count
Pineda allowed one run and two hits in six innings while Santana gave up one run and six hits in five-plus innings.
NOTES: To make room for 1B Mark Teixeira, who came off the disabled list, the Yankees designated 1B Ike Davis for assignment. Davis was 3-for-14 in eight games and said he was not surprised to be designated while also adding he would consider joining Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre if he clears waivers. ... Minnesota 3B Trevor Plouffe missed his second straight game because of a mild right groin strain and remains day-to-day. He did participate in some baseball activities by doing some running, taking swings in the batting cage and fielding ground balls. ... OF/3B Miguel Sano (hamstring) is expected to play seven innings at third base for Triple-A Rochester. Sano began his rehab assignment there by playing five innings in the field and getting two plate appearances. ... Other than offering injury updates, Twins general manager Terry Ryan said pitching coach Neil Allen will return to his role at some point this season. Allen was suspended by the team last month following a DWI arrest.