Chapman saves Yankees’ win over Twins
With the Yankees barely clinging to a late lead in a game with October implications, Aroldis Chapman made fast work of Joe Mauer and the Minnesota Twins. Really fast. Throwing all four pitches at least 100 mph, Chapman worked out of big trouble in the eighth inning and New York edged Minnesota 2-1 on Monday night to increase its AL wild-card cushion.
“Just a huge performance from him,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Aaron Judge hit his 44th home run, Todd Frazier’s sacrifice fly snapped a sixth-inning tie and Jaime Garcia gave the Yankees a splendid outing against the team that traded him this year after only one start. New York, still three games behind first-place Boston in the AL East, won the opener of a three-game series that could serve as a potential playoff preview.
Despite going 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position, the Yankees built a five-game advantage for the league’s top wild card with 12 to play. Minnesota is in the second spot, 1 1/2 games ahead of the idle Los Angeles Angels for the final post-season berth. So if the standings hold, New York will host the Twins in the one-game playoff on Oct. 3.
Minnesota has been eliminated by the Yankees in each of their four post-season matchups, all from 200310.
“Knowing where we both are in the standings, yes, it does feel a little bit different,” Girardi said.
Chapman replaced a wild Dellin Betances with the bases loaded and one out. The left-hander struck out Mauer, who hit a grand slam Sunday, and retired No. 3 hitter Byron Buxton on an easy fly, needing only four pitches that all reached 100 mph or more.
“You don’t want those runs to score because they belong to your teammate,” Chapman said through a translator. “You definitely want to be more aggressive when you face the batters in a situation like that.”
The fastballs to Mauer were clocked in order at 100, 101 and 102 (mph).
“Ball was cutting pretty good,” the three-time batting champion said. “You kind of have to tip your cap. Love to have that opportunity again, but he made his pitches.”
Chapman then worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 19th save in 23 chances. It was his third career regularseason save that required at least five outs — and first since August 2013 with Cincinnati.
The fireballing closer also had one in the World Series last year for the Chicago Cubs.
“Today we were lucky. Chapman did an unbelievable job. I put him in a tough situation, but I can’t keep doing that. I have to be better,” said Betances, who was booed. “Thank God we got the win. It would have been a tough one to swallow.”
Judge homered to right-centre in the first off hard-luck loser Ervin Santana (15-8), who won his previous four decisions.
David Robertson (9-2) retired all four hitters he faced, improving to 5-0 since the Yankees reacquired him from the Chicago White Sox in July.