Yankees 9, Twins 5: Vernon Wells drove in three runs and Ichiro Suzuki and Travis Hafner both had three hits and two runs scored as visiting New York completed a four-game sweep of reeling Minnesota.
Ichiro's two-run triple highlighted a four-run sixth inning and rookie Zoilo Almonte had two hits and drove in a run. David Phelps (6-5) benefited from the high-octane offense and worked into the seventh for the Yankees, who recorded 29 runs in the series - after mustering 13 during their five-game losing skid.
Justin Morneau belted a pair of solo homers and Pedro Florimon and Brian Dozier added RBI singles for the Twins, who have lost five in a row and 10 of 13.
Wells didn't waste much time getting the fireworks started as the veteran deposited a 1-2 slider from rookie Kyle Gibson (1-1) into left field to plate a pair and give New York a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Wells tacked on another run with an RBI double to left in the third before Luis Cruz upped the ante with an RBI single later in the frame.
The offensive explosion proved to be enough for Phelps, who rebounded from a brutal performance versus Baltimore to keep Minnesota in check. After yielding a career-high nine runs on as many hits in 2 1/3 innings against the Orioles on Saturday, Phelps breezed into the seventh before being charged with four runs on eight hits.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Making his second career start, Gibson was shelled for eight runs on 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings. ... Ichiro scored at least one run in each contest of the four-game series. ... New York will open a 10-game homestand Friday with the first of three contests versus American League East rival Baltimore. Minnesota will look for better fortune when it begins a 10-game road trip Friday with the first of three outings against Toronto.
NY Yankees | Minnesota | |
David Phelps | Player | Kyle Gibson |
Win | W/L | Loss |
6.1 | IP | 5.1 |
5 | Strikeouts | 2 |
8 | Hits | 11 |
5.68 | ERA | 13.50 |
NY Yankees | Minnesota | |
Travis Hafner | Player | Justin Morneau |
3 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 2 |
0 | HR | 2 |
5 | TB | 8 |
.750 | Avg | .667 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
NY Yankees | 13 | 0 | 20 | .351 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Minnesota | 11 | 2 | 17 | .306 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |