Yanks Go Yard Recap: New York Yankees Offense Breaks Out As Pettitte Sets Strikeout Record

When you look at the pantheon of great New York Yankee starting pitchers, Andy Pettitte has to be among the top five in the franchise’s illustrious history. From his amazing postseason numbers in winning five rings with the club, to some of the regular seasons he has had, he’s right there with Ron Guidry and Whitey Ford. Tonight he broke Ford’s franchise record for strikeouts as the Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins 10-4.

Jul 1, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte (46) delivers a pitch for a strikeout in the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Pettitte didn’t exactly have his best stuff tonight, and hasn’t in a few weeks, but he was staked to an early 1-0 lead when Robinson Cano hit his 18th homer of the year in the first. The Twins came right back in the bottom half though. Clete Thomas led off with a walk. Brian Dozier followed with a double. Ryan Doumit brought them both home with a single. Three batters later, Oswaldo Arcia‘s comebacker scored Doumit on Pettitte’s error.

In the third, Cano hit his 19th of the year tied the game after Jayson Nix reached on Jamey Carroll‘s error.  The Twins took the lead in the sixth when Chris Parmelee led off the inning with his eighth homer of the year.

The Yankee bats came alive in the eighth and of course Cano got it started with a double. Ichiro Suzuki then reached on an infield bunt single. A pickoff error by Twins pitcher Jared Burton allowed the Yankees to tie the game and moved Ichiro to third. After a flyout, Zoilo Almonte brought home Ichiro with a single. Lyle Overbay followed with a walk. A wild pitch moved the runners up. Chris Stewart‘s groundout brought home another run.

The Yankee bats added to it in the ninth. Brett Gardner led off with a single. Nix followed with a double and Cano was intentionally walked to load the bases. After a lineout, Travis Hafner brought home a run with a single. Almonte followed with an infield hit for an RBI. After a strikeout, Stewart walked to bring home another run. A wild pitch plated Hafner for the final blow.

YGY Player Of The Game: Cano

Game two of the series is at 8:10 Tuesday. Phil Hughes will face Samuel Deduno.

Notes: A interesting part of the injured cavalry is getting closer to returning. Alex Rodriguez will begin a rehab assignment in Charleston on Tuesday. Look for the Yankees to spend some money in international free agency as the period begins Tuesday.