Yankees Snap Losing Streak As Offense Wakes Up

Jul 3, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Zelous Wheeler (45) celebrates with second baseman Brendan Ryan (17) after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

There was a point in this game when the Yankees looked awful. You got to thinking here we go again. Then a funny thing happened. A big hit happened. And all of a sudden, even though Masahiro Tanaka didn’t have his best game, they actually won, beating the Twins 7-4.

The Twins got one off Tanaka right away in the bottom of the first. Brian Dozier led off the game with a single and two batters later Chris Parmalee doubled him home. The Twins extended it to 2-0 in the third when Sam Fuld and Dozier singled and Fuld scored on a lineout.

Phil Hughes was cruising along against his former mates. Then the fifth inning happened. Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann singled and then Carlos Beltran followed with his ninth homer of the year to make it 3-2. Two batters later, Zelous Wheeler became the first Yankee since Marcus Thames in 2001 to homer in his first major league game. It was also his first hit.

The Twins cut it to a one run defecit when Kurt Suzuki doubled and came around to score on Kendrys Morales RBI groundout.

The Yankees extended their lead in the seventh with a one out rally. Ichiro Suzuki walked and Wheeler singled. Brendan Ryan followed with an RBI double, Brett Gardner an RBI single and Derek Jeter added an RBI groundout.

Eduardo Escobar drove in a run in the seventh but that’s as close as the Twins would get.

A holiday matinee for tomorrow at 3:10 ET. Chase Whitley will face Kyle Gibson.