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BASEBALL

Luis Cessa Returns To The Rotation As New York Takes On Minnesota

Luis Cessa will return to the rotation Tuesday for New York as he makes the start in Minneapolis against Minnesota in game two of their three -game series while his counter part Bartolo Colon will be making his Minnesota debut. 

 Bartolo Colon is slated to make his Minnesota debut Tuesday, as the Twins and Yankees continue a three-game set at Target Field. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242700942/colon-set-to-make-twins-debut-vs-cessa-yanks/?topicId=26688836

Righty Luis Cessa will get the ball for New York, making his fourth start of the season. His three previous starts all came in June, and he allowed a total of nine earned runs in 13 2/3 innings. However, he has spun two scoreless relief outings in July, scattering eight hits over 6 2/3 innings. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242700942/colon-set-to-make-twins-debut-vs-cessa-yanks/?topicId=26688836

Colon, who signed a Minor League deal with the Twins on July 7, will get the nod after one outing with Triple-A Rochester. The 44-year-old hurler has 235 career wins on his resume, but posted a 2-8 record with an 8.14 ERA in 13 starts for the Braves this season before being released. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242700942/colon-set-to-make-twins-debut-vs-cessa-yanks/?topicId=26688836

"I know it kind of defies logic, but Bartolo's mechanics have always been pretty simple," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I think to say that anyone is pitching at 44 years old, you're surprised, but if you were going to say someone was going to do it, I'm not surprised it's Bartolo." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242700942/colon-set-to-make-twins-debut-vs-cessa-yanks/?topicId=26688836

The Twins will be the 10th team Colon has played for during his 20-year career. Colon, who made his Major League debut in 1997, actually faced Twins manager Paul Molitor; the Hall of Famer went 2-for-8 against Colon, including 1-for-3 in Molitor's final career game on Sept. 27, 1998. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242700942/colon-set-to-make-twins-debut-vs-cessa-yanks/?topicId=26688836

"He's a completely different guy than I faced when he broke into the league. He had high-end stuff," Molitor said. "He was that guy for a long time. He's just made adjustments along the way to continue to find a way to play in the Major Leagues." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242700942/colon-set-to-make-twins-debut-vs-cessa-yanks/?topicId=26688836

Colon's ability to run his two-seam fastball to the edges of the strike zone has helped him remain a viable starter well into his 40s. However, Statcast's contact metrics suggest that hitters are getting better wood on those pitches this season. Colon is getting more strikes with those edge pitches than he was last season (91.6 percent, as opposed to 87.2 percent last year), but opponents have tallied a significantly higher rate of hard-hit contact (47.1 percent, compared to 37.9 percent last year), or balls with exit velocities at or above 95 mph. Opposing hitters have also been able to club a higher rate of barrels (7.1 percent, after 4.7 percent last year) on those pitches. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242700942/colon-set-to-make-twins-debut-vs-cessa-yanks/?topicId=26688836

Colon has faced the Yankees 19 times (18 starts) over his lengthy career. The veteran hurler has a 6-7 record with a 5.69 ERA over a total of 106 innings against New York. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242700942/colon-set-to-make-twins-debut-vs-cessa-yanks/?topicId=26688836

Matt Holliday has the most career at-bats against Colon with 19, posting a .368 clip with four RBIs and five strikeouts. Jacoby Ellsbury, meanwhile, is batting .333 in 18 at-bats against Colon, including a double. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242700942/colon-set-to-make-twins-debut-vs-cessa-yanks/?topicId=26688836

As for their last game, New York fell short after their rally in the opener as they lost to Minnesota by a score of 2-4. 

New York didn't end up on the right end of the outcome in the opener at Target Field Monday against Minnesota after they had rallied. 

Eduardo Escobar delivered a go-ahead, pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth inning and Eddie Rosario drove in a pair of runs to help the Twins to a 4-2 win over the Yankees in the series opener on Monday night at Target Field. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242701666/twins-rally-in-eighth-inning-to-beat-yankees/

Minnesota took the lead with two eighth-inning runs, spoiling Caleb Smith's Major League debut. Joe Mauer sparked the rally with a leadoff single just out of Aaron Judge's reach, a play with an 18-percent catch probability, and Miguel Sano followed with a single to left field. Escobar delivered what proved to be a game-winning single into left field, while Rosario provided insurance with an RBI double. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242701666/twins-rally-in-eighth-inning-to-beat-yankees/

"We found a way, had to scratch across a couple in the eighth there," said Twins manager Paul Molitor. "Escobar did a nice job on an off-speed pitch. He can go down and get those, especially right-handed. Our bullpen preserved the lead, and we beat the rain. So we'll take it." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242701666/twins-rally-in-eighth-inning-to-beat-yankees/

Twins left-hander Adalberto Mejia faced the minimum through three and was efficient before being lifted with one out in the sixth after having thrown 76 pitches. He left with the tying run at second base, but reliever Tyler Duffey got out of the jam. The lone run charged to Mejia came on back-to-back doubles from rookie Garrett Cooper and Austin Romine in the fifth. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242701666/twins-rally-in-eighth-inning-to-beat-yankees/

Duffey later gave up an RBI double to Cooper in the seventh, part of a 3-for-4 performance for the Yankees' rookie. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242701666/twins-rally-in-eighth-inning-to-beat-yankees/

"After getting that first hit [on Sunday], you feel like you can get comfortable in the box," Cooper said. "It was a matter of time. You get that first one out of the way and you can relax up there to do what you normally do." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242701666/twins-rally-in-eighth-inning-to-beat-yankees/

Playing in his first career game at Target Field, Judge wowed the crowd of 27,566 not with his bat, but with his strong right arm. The AL Rookie of the Year front-runner threw out Brian Dozierat home as the Twins' second baseman tried to score on a sacrifice fly in the third. According toStatcast™, Judge's throw was 97.7 mph -- his hardest of the year -- and traveled 262 feet on one hop. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242701666/twins-rally-in-eighth-inning-to-beat-yankees/

"Off the bat, I'm trying to first make the catch, then once I was able to get behind it, you try to give [catcher Austin] Romine a nice easy hop," Judge said. "He made a great tag on Dozier there. Dozier tried to slide around and get his hand in, but what a tag by Romine." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242701666/twins-rally-in-eighth-inning-to-beat-yankees/

Yankees right-hander Bryan Mitchell went five innings in his first start of the season, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits. Rosario brought home a run with an RBI double in the second, while Mitchell was charged with a run-scoring error in the third when he couldn't handle a throw while covering first base with two outs. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242701666/twins-rally-in-eighth-inning-to-beat-yankees/

"[Third baseman] Miguel Sano was playing back, so I felt if I put a perfect bunt down, we would have got the lead," Gregorius said. "It got stuck right there in front of home plate. It should have been a better bunt. Sano was playing way back, the pitcher falls off, and if he wants to get me out, he has to spin and throw." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242701666/twins-rally-in-eighth-inning-to-beat-yankees/

The Yankees had another scoring opportunity in the sixth with Frazier at third and one out, causing the Twins to bring the infield in. Holliday scorched a grounder with an exit velocity of 101.6 mph, but shortstop Ehire Adrianza made a diving stop and threw to first to save a run from scoring. Starlin Castro then struck out to strand Frazier. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242701666/twins-rally-in-eighth-inning-to-beat-yankees/

"Adrianza is a great shortstop with great hands and moves well," Mejia said through a translator. "As far as Kepler, he's just as good as the other two outfielders we have out there." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/242701666/twins-rally-in-eighth-inning-to-beat-yankees/

New York drops to 47-44 and is now 3.5 games back of Boston who is leading the American League East. Minnesota meanwhile improves to 47-45 in the American League Central just 1.5 games back of Cleveland who is at the top of their division.

Right -hander Luis Cessa has a record of 0-3 with a 4.18 earn run average.He will be making his fourth start of the year for New York, having lasted three turns in the rotation last month. He was 0-3 with a 5.93 earn run average in starts against the A's, Rangers and White Sox. He will be going up against Minnesota right-hander Bartolo Colon who has a record of 2-8 with an 8.14 earn run average. The 44-year old, who has 235 career wins will make his Minnesota debut after the twins signed him to a minor league deal July 7th. In a Triple -A start on Thursday he gave up 4 runs and 4 hits in 3/2/3 innings. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-twins/2017/07/18/491499#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491499

Will New York's offense be able to back up Luis Cessa's start and get runs off veteran Bartolo Colon? Will Luis Cessa get his first win as a member of the rotation? Will Minnesota be able to get runs off Luis Cessa? 

First pitch is set for 8:10 pm. The game will be televised on Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-twins/2017/07/18/491499#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491499