J.A. Happ, Jake Odorizzi Tabbed For The Finale As New York Faces Minnesota
The last time New York played in a finale it was against Colorado in the Bronx where they had already won the first two games to win the series but the finale however didn’t go their way as they suffered a 8-4 loss with James Paxton on the mound.
On Wednesday night New York will get yet another opportunity to win the finale and the series only this time at Target Field against Minnesota with J.A. Happ on the mound while Minnesota meanwhile will look to bounce back from their recent defeat in game two and also look to win the series with Jake Odorizzi on the mound.
New York comes into the finale with a record of 65-35 while Minnesota comes into the finale with a record of 61-39. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings
As stated above,
J.A. Happ will start for New York. The left-hander comes into the finale with a record of 8-5 with a 4.86 earn run average. Happ will make his 20th start of the season, having picked up a victory in his most recent outing against the Rockies. He gave up just two runs and struck out eight batters. He has gone at least five innings in each of his last three starts. He will oppose Minnesota right -hander Jake Odorizzi who comes into the finale with a record of 11-4 with a 3.18 earn run average. Odorizzi struggled with hot and humid conditions on a muggy 94 degree afternoon Friday but settled down for an effective start, allowing three runs in five innings. He has allowed six homers in his last four starts, doubling his season total. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers
As for New York and Minnesota’s previous game,
New York had to come back to win.
The loud crack sent Aaron Hicks into motion, his legs churning violently on what he described as "a do-or-die play." As his chest thudded hard against the warning track in left-center field, he nestled the baseball securely in his glove, acquiring a mouthful of dirt in the process. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
Hicks' incredible catch stole an extra-base hit and sealed the Yankees' wild 14-12, 10-inning victory over the Twins on Tuesday night at Target Field, in what immediately became a contender for the best game of the year. It also offered a tantalizing preview of what could await both clubs in the postseason. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
"It was a great game by both sides," Hicks said. "It was probably one of the most fun games I’ve ever played. So many lead changes, just a lot happening. And it was fun." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
There were five lead changes or ties in the final three innings, the last of which was provided by Gleyber Torres' run-scoring single in the top of the 10th. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
Adam Ottavino walked the bases loaded in the home half of the frame, and the Twins' Max Kepler sent all three runners in motion, barreling a 96.9 mph fastball from Chad Green toward the wall. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
Fortunately for the Yanks, Hicks said he had noticed catcher Austin Romine was set up outside, prompting Hicks to shade a few steps to his right. That adjustment made all the difference in helping Hicks rob Kepler, whose expected batting average on that particular ball was .560, based on the exit velocity and hit placement “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch.
"That's one of those games, for being late July, we'll probably be talking about for a long time," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "Our guys are just really, really good at competition. That was the ultimate competition out there, where it was tough for both teams on the mound and so many guys did some really, really special things." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
Seven RBIs for Sir Didi
Didi Gregorius single-handedly kept the Yankees in the game early, mashing a two-run double in the first inning and slugging a three-run homer in the fifth, both of which came off starter Kyle Gibson. The homer was the 100th of Gregorius' career. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
The Bombers' shortstop finished the evening 5-for-5, playing a key role in a five-run eighth that completed the comeback from what had been an 8-2 deficit after four innings.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
"I was trying to drive the ball to left-center and trying to stay consistent," Gregorius said. "I did that with the first pitch that I saw from Gibson today, tried to drive it to left-center. I stay back on curveballs and changeups, and I'm able to drive them and hit them hard. It's a work in progress, but so far it's good." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
Facing Blake Parker, Mike Tauchman launched a drive that clipped the fence for a run-scoring double and Aaron Judge narrowly missed a homer with a two-run double.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
Gregorius' fourth hit came off of Tyler Duffey, and he added a one-out single in the 10th, racing home with the go-ahead run when Torres singled off Kohl Stewart. Gregorius and Torres also nearly teamed on what would have been an amazing double play to end the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
“He’s just so consistent," Judge said. "That’s what Didi does. He’s going to go out there and keep giving you quality at-bats. That was fun to watch. I got to be on base for a couple of those hits, so it was fun to watch him work." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
No relief, no surrender
Outs were in short supply all night, beginning with starter Domingo German, who was pounded for eight runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. It marked the third straight start that the pitching-hungry Yankees have seen their starter allow seven runs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
Miguel Sano responded to the five-run eighth by putting the Twins back on top in the home half of that frame, crushing a 457-foot drive off Zack Britton that cleared the bullpens in left field. It was Sano's second homer of the game, after slugging a three-run shot in the fourth off German. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
"It was fun, every minute of it," Judge said. "Even going down and them taking the lead, that was fun. Who wants it more? Who is going to step up and deliver the big hit for us? Guy after guy continued to do that. That’s what championship teams are made of.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
Asked to protect a one-run lead in the ninth, Aroldis Chapman faltered for the fifth time this year and the second straight outing, walking the bases loaded before serving up a Jorge Polanco sacrifice fly. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
"It was one of those nights where he loses the command, loses the strike zone," Boone said. "Every now and then, he’ll have that. We’ve also seen him this year in one of the blown saves and was able to work his way through it. I like that he just continued to compete and continued to pitch when it was obviously tough for him there for the first few hitters." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
Hicks plays hero
The Twins once believed that Hicks would develop into a bona fide star, though that dream had faded by November 2015, when he was traded to the Yankees. With the Yankees down to their final out, Hicks showed off his tools on Tuesday, cracking a two-run homer off Taylor Rogers. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
“It was good," Hicks said. "It was a fun experience to be able to do it here, but I’m just glad my team was able to come out of it with the win.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
Hicks' 11th homer of the season, of course, was simply a precursor to the catch that had the Yanks turning up the bass in the visitors' clubhouse. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
Kepler grumbled, "You do everything right and it gets caught," while Gregorius lauded Hicks' grab as the best he had ever seen to end a game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
"That’s why he plays center field for the New York Yankees," Judge added. "He makes plays like that. Right off the bat, I knew he was going to make it. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-hicks-makes-game-saving-catch
Meanwhile while New York came back and evened the series up Minnesota had a setback.
Fireworks were to be expected with the Bronx Bombers meeting the Bomba Squad at Target Field. The actual slugfest that ensued on Tuesday night between two of the most powerful lineups in the league surpassed all expectations. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
Miguel Sanó’s three-run homer in the fourth inning gave the Twins a six-run lead. The Yankees mounted a seven-run comeback. Sano went deep again in the eighth inning with a go-ahead, two-run shot to seemingly put New York away. Down to their last out, the Yankees got a two-run blast from former Minnesota outfielder Aaron Hicks to wrest the lead back in the ninth, and the Twins answered again in the bottom. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
But the Yankees landed the knockout blow against the Twins’ makeshift bullpen. With converted starter Kohl Stewart on the mound in the 10th inning, the Yankees got an RBI single from Gleyber Torres to finally claim a 14-12 win that featured five lead changes, two ejections in the final three innings and a game-ending diving catch by Hicks to stop the Twins from tying it up once again. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
If that’s not the game of the year so far, I don’t know what it would be,” Twins starter Kyle Gibson said. “Two really, really good teams, two really, really good offenses and two teams that never think they’re out of the game. ... That’s what playoff baseball looks like; two teams not giving up. Hopefully, the fans enjoyed it and hopefully they realize we’re never out of a game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
Sano’s two big blasts, including his eighth-inning shot off Zack Britton, had helped the Twins maintain the pace, and a wild ninth inning featuring three walks from Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman gave the Twins the opportunity to tie it on Jorge Polanco’s sacrifice fly. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
Considering the state of the bullpen and the fight that the offense showed throughout the five-hour, three-minute affair, the Twins’ players found reasons to remain largely positive following the loss. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
“It was very positive after the game,” Blake Parker said. “I think there was a lot of positives to come out of the game. I know there was a few negatives, but we battled all the way to the last out. Obviously, Max [Kepler] put a great swing on that ball and [Hicks] made a great play. I think both bullpens struggled but that’s part of the game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
But with a week to go until the July 31 Trade Deadline and three relievers having been designated for assignment in the last month, the Twins’ bullpen featured three pitchers that were in Triple-A Rochester a week ago, including two career starters and a pitcher that hadn’t made an appearance in the Major Leagues. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
Cody Stashak did his part, holding the Yankees at bay in two scoreless innings in his Major League debut, but three of the Twins’ trusted bullpen arms -- Parker, Ryne Harper and Taylor Rogers -- couldn’t hold off the Yankees, who capped a five-run eighth with a go-ahead double from Gregorius and got the two-run, go-ahead homer by Hicks off Rogers, the Twins’ bullpen ace. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
With Lewis Thorpe having pitched 2 2/3 innings on Tuesday and Trevor May still recovering from a 49-pitch outing on Sunday, that left only Stewart, a starter at Triple-A for most of the season, to pitch in extra innings after the Twins tied the game at 12 but couldn’t walk it off against Chapman. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
“I think that our hitters did a great job of keeping us in the game,” Parker said. “We put ourselves in some tough situations, and they answered the call.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
Frankly, manager Rocco Baldelli didn’t think the Twins should have gotten to that point in the first place. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
The normally stoic Baldelli was specifically upset after the game about two calls that didn’t go the Twins’ way in the eighth inning, when Tyler Duffey was pitching to Luke Voit with two outs, and the Twins nursing a 9-8 lead. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
Baldelli said he felt that Voit went around on an 0-2 check swing, but he was more upset about home plate umpire Ramon De Jesus’ lack of a called strike three on Duffey’s 3-2 curveball that appeared to clip the strike zone but instead resulted in a walk that extended the inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
Baldelli was ejected from the game after arguing the call, and one batter later, Gregorius doubled off the wall to give the Yankees the lead. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
Ramon had, in my opinion, a fine day behind the plate,” Baldelli said. “In one of the biggest moments of the game, he called [a ball]. ... There were two times where I thought the inning was over. And I feel pretty confident about what I saw. And the inning ended up going on. And the Yankees ended up scoring because of it. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
“That’s what I’m talking about when I say our players earned something, did their part. They did their jobs. So that’s what’s frustrating about the whole thing.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
Baldelli’s rare frustrations aside, the Twins’ players were, to a man, focused on the positives of the contest in the clubhouse after the game. And with the challenging result behind them, they’re just hoping to take the fact that they battled well enough to win another big game -- a playoff-caliber game against a top opponent -- learn from the experience, and move on. “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
“We played a handful of games that are clearly playoff-type intensity games,” Baldelli said. “They do take a lot out of you, but they also build character at the same time. Every time a game ends like this, there is certainly some emotion. And if you lose, there is some frustration. But we can also take a ton of positives about what we see out there, both today and all these games we’ve played this week, to be honest.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/miguel-sano-homers-twice-in-wild-loss
First pitch is set for 8:10pm from Target Field. The game will be televised on Yes, FSNO and ESPN.