Clint now twice as good as Mickey
MINNEAPOLIS — Clint Frazier just doubled down. Frazier, who caused a stir by allegedly asking for Mickey Mantle’s retired No. 7 during the spring, is now wearing No. 77. Frazier had been wearing No. 30, which he gave back to David Robertson upon his return back to the Bombers.
Frazier reiterated Wednesday he never asked for Mantle’s number. He said he thought 77 looked cool and liked the idea of the double number with Aaron Judge already wearing No. 99.
“I never asked for that number,” Frazier said. “This is just a number that I’ve been thinking no one else wore and I wanted to wear it.”
The only other Yankee to ever wear No. 77 is Humberto Sanchez, who made two relief appearances in 2008.
“I hope someone picks up No. 88 now,” Frazier said. “I’ve worn 17, which is a number that I liked in the past. I wore No. 75 in spring training, Dustin Fowler wore 77 and I liked how his number looked and wanted to wear it.”
CRASH COURSE
Chase Headley is moving predominantly to the other side of the diamond to accommodate Todd Frazier playing every day at third.
Headley will be getting reps with Joe Espada at first base as he attempts what Joe Girardi called a “crash course” on the position. Headley, 33, has played 14 career games and made six starts at first during his 10-year career.
“If this makes our team better, then I’m happy to do it,” Headley said.
Headley, who did not start Wednesday but went 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter, will likely platoon with Garrett Cooper at first. Headley can play against righties and Cooper against lefties. Headley has a .785 OPS against righties as a lefty batter but an awful .534 OPS against lefties as a righty batter.
“Third base is definitely my first choice,” Frazier said.
Headley (11 errors) could also see occasional time at third, Girardi said.
NEWS AND NOTES
Ji-Man Choi and Rob Refsynder were designated for assignment before the game while Chasen Shreve was optioned to Triple-A Scranton. … Aaron Judge and Matt Holliday also did not start, getting rest days. Judge struck out as pinchhitter in the ninth.
Mstarters. Rookie Jordan Montgomery (l.) gave up six runs in the second inning on Wednesday afternoon, and the Yankees lost 6-1 to the Twins in the rubber game of their three-game series at Target Field.
The Bombers are 0-8-2 in their last 10 series.
Newcomers David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle and Todd Frazier arrived during the game, as their plane had been delayed.
Frazier pinch-hit for Ronald Torreyes with runners on the corners and one out in the seventh and struck out. He stayed in the game at third base and got hit in the right hand during his second at-bat with two outs in the ninth.
Kahnle threw a scoreless eighth, striking out two and topping out at 99.8 mph.
Montgomery, 24, has been mostly fantastic this season, challenging hitters with his five-pitch mix. But the 24-year-old lefty simply didn’t have it in the second. His final line: 6 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Jose Berrios dominated the Yankees, allowing just one run on six hits in 6.2 innings.
Ronald Torreyes made some nice plays at third. His best was when he robbed Robbie Grossman of a ripped extra-base hit down the line and an RBI when he laid out to make a diving catch that ended the first inning.
After Torreyes grounded out with the bases loaded to end the Yankees’ half of the second, the Twins struck for six runs in their half of the inning. The big blow was Miguel Sano’s 419foot, three-run homer that made it 6-0. Minnesota scored all six of its runs with two outs, ultimately batting around.
Minny starter Jose Berrios (9-3) went 6.2 innings and allowed just one run in lowering his ERA to 3.50.
STAT OF THE GAME
The Yankees went 14 straight series without winning one in 1991 (0-3-11).
UNSUNG HERO
Ehire Adrianza had a pair of hits in the No. 7 hole for Minnesota.
Gary Sanchez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
YANKEES AT MARINERS
INNEAPOLIS — The Yankees got bullpen help.
Now, they just need more from their 10:10 p.m., Thursday. TV: YES. Luis Severino (5-4, 3.40 ERA) vs. Felix Hernandez (5-3, 4.20)