N.Y. Yankees: Bombers Offer Twins No Quarter

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

OFF TO MINNESOTA

Yankees lead Twins; 2-0

I - NYY 10; MIN 4

II - NYY 8; MIN 2

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

GAME THREE

New York Yankees

vs.

Minnesota Twins

FROM

TARGET FIELD

Look what the Yankees did to the Twins, again.  They say it's not a series until the home team loses.  By then it may be too late for the Twins as the series shifts to Minnesota for game three on Monday.  Up two games with two chances to win one at Target Field, if the Yankees return to Bronx County for a decisive game five it's because something went terribly wrong.

In the meantime the Yankees have been a bunch of savages in the batter's box, outscoring the Twins by an 18-6 margin.  They're batting .297 with seven extra-base hits, 16 walks, and 18 strikeouts.  Of their 19 total hits, only three have gone for home runs.  That means they're stringing together hits.  They're additionally batting (8 for 24) .333 with runners in scoring position.

IF IT'S HIGH, LET IT FLY; IF IT'S LOW, LET IT GO

• Aaron Judge: 4 walks; no strikeouts!
• Giancarlo Stanton: 4 walks; one strikeout!

CALL TO ARMS

Masahiro Tanaka pitches brilliantly on Saturday, yielding just one earned run on three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts through five innings.  In game one James Paxton allows three runs on five hits (two home runs) and one walk with eight strikeouts through 4.2 innings.  Through two games the bullpen has allowed two runs on five hits and five walks with twelve strikeouts over 8.1 innings pitched.


Minnesota's last playoff victory over the Yankees occurred on back on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004, in game one of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium.  Johan Santana and Mike Mussina duel for seven innings.  Twins relievers Juan Rincon and Joe Nathan complete the 2-0 whitewashing of the Yankees.