New York Yankees Hang On For 9-7 Win; Take Three Of Four Vs Twins

Jul 6, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (22) hits a three run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees jumped out in front 9-0, and then held on to defeat the Minnesota Twins 9-7 on Sunday afternoon.

The Yankees got started right away in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. A single by Mark Teixeira scored Brett Gardner and a double by Carlos Beltran brought home Derek Jeter. Teixeira tried to score on the play as well, but was thrown out at the plate.

In the second, singles by Brian Roberts, Ichiro Suzuki and Kelly Johnson loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by Jeter scored Roberts to make it 3-0. Jacoby Ellsbury then smashed a three-run home run to put the Yankees up 6-0. The Twins starter, Ricky Nolasco, was gone after the second.

After a scoreless third inning, the Yankees were at it again in the fourth. Ichiro and Johnson got it started with back to back singles.  A deep fly out by Gardner advanced the runners to second and third. Jeter then singled to right field to bring home Ichiro to make it 7-0.

Johnson scored as Ellsbury reached on a fielders choice to increase the lead to 8-0. A single by Teixeira made it runners on first and third. Ellsbury then scored on a balk to put the Yanks up 9-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Twins struck back with four runs, highlighted by a Chris Colabello home run. A rare error by Kuroda on a throw to first base could have ended the inning. Kuroda  finally got the Twins Brian Dozier to strike out to end the inning with the Yankees up 9-4.

Girardi came to the mound with two out in the sixth to bring in Adam Warren to replace Kuroda. Warren got the final out in the sixth. But the Twins added a run in the seventh. The key play in the inning came when Ichiro missed the cutoff man, setting the Twins up with runners on second and third. The runner on third eventually scored to inch Minnesota closer at 9-5.

Girardi replaced Warren with  Jim Miller for the eighth. Miller allowed a home run by Trevor Plouffe  that closed the gap to 9-6.

So Girardi turned to David Robinson for the ninth. It wasn´t pretty, but Robinson was able to get the job done. The Twins managed a run on three hits before Robinson closed it out for his 21st save.

Kuroda allowed four runs and seven hits in 5.2 to improve his record to 6-6.