New York Yankees Broom Minnesota Twins Behind Surging Teixeira
May 18, 2009 · A.J. Martelli · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Coming off three consecutive walk-off wins going into Monday’s game, the New York Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins by a score of 7-6, completing a four-game sweep.
Mark Teixeira had a huge night for the Yanks and kept the ball rolling with his hot hitting. He blasted two homers from both sides of the plate and knocked in four runs in the game. He now has 10 round trippers on the year, and has homered from both sides of the plate twice this season.
Lifetime he has now accomplished the feat seven times and is one behind the all-time leader, his teammate Nick Swisher, who has eight for his career.
“I love it, I wish I could do it more,” he said to the YES Network about his hitting.
“It is just part of being a switch hitter. The first one, I was just looking for something up to hit in the air, but the second one was a no-doubter. It’s nice to relax a little with those!”
Yankee skipper Joe Girardi commented on Teixeira’s offensive game and notices nothing new about his first baseman’s capability.
“I just see that he is playing up to his ability,” Girardi said.
“Even when he was struggling, his attitude remained the same. But when you get a few hits, you can smile.”
Andy Pettitte started for the Yanks and got off to a rocky start. In the first inning, he gave up two runs, an RBI single to Joe Mauer and another to Justin Morneau.
Down 2-0 after the top half of the first, Teixeira gave the Yankees a lead with his first home run on the night, belting a three-run blast over the left field wall.
Alex Rodriguez would come up next and follow him up with a solo home run, his fourth of the year and third in three games, giving the Bombers back-to-back jacks.
Later in the frame, Friday’s hero Melky Cabrera belted an RBI single to score Robinson Cano, and rookie catcher Francisco Cervelli singled to score Cabrera.
The Yanks sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning, pounded out eight of their 13 hits, and scored six runs.
Teixeira clobbered his second home run of the game in the seventh inning, a solo blast into the second deck in right field, giving the Yankees their seventh run on the night.
The Twins tried to chip away at the Yankee lead but to no avail. Michael Cuddyer smacked a solo homer in the top of the fourth, and grounded out to second base allowing Mat Tolbert to score in the top of the ninth.
Along with Cuddyer, Denard Span clubbed a solo home run in the top of the sixth and collected an RBI single to score Carlos Gomez in the bottom of the eighth, pulling the Twins to their six runs on the night.
Pettitte finished the night with a win, and moves up to 4-1 on the year. Tonight he went 6.2 innings and gave up four earned runs on 12 hits. He walked one and struck out three.
“It was a battle, that’s for sure,” Pettitte said.
“It was a good win, the guys scored a lot of runs and I was fortunate enough to get us into the seventh inning.”
Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez each recorded holds for the Yankees while Phil Coke notched his first career save in place of the unavailable Mariano Rivera.
Coke told the media about how difficult it really is to close a game.
“It’s hard!” he exclaimed. “I got into a jam in the ninth and gave up a run, but Cervelli and (Ramiro) Pena told me to relax.”
Coke assured Rivera after the game that his job as the Yankee closer is secure.
With the win, the Yankees have now won their last six games, and will continue their home stand against the Baltimore Orioles tomorrow night.
CC Sabathia (3-3, 3.70 ERA) will take the hill for the Yanks and face Brad Bergesen (1-1, 5.27 ERA)
Media credit: YES Network, Yankees.com.
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