Yankees surge past Colon in 5th for win
MINNEAPOLIS — Bartolo Colon faltered in the fifth inning after a decent start by the burly 44-yearold, whose Minnesota debut ended with a two-run double by Gary Sanchez that sent the New York Yankees on their way to a 6- 3 victory over the Twins on Tuesday night.
Making his 514th major league start and joining his 10th team, Colon allowed eight hits and four runs with no walks and three strikeouts. He left to a standing ovation with no outs in the fateful fifth, despite the lackluster box score line in the end.
Aaron Judge added an RBI single and Didi Gregorius hit a two-run home run off Ryan Pressly in the fifth after Colon was removed, as the Yankees woke up their slumbering offense amid speculation they were working on a trade with the Chicago White Sox for third baseman Todd Frazier and relief pitcher David Robertson.
Miguel Sano homered and Brian Dozier hit an RBI triple for the Twins, but they left 12 men on base.
The sputtering New York bullpen stepped up with 5 1/ 3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Luis Cessa, with Aroldis Chapman pitching a scoreless ninth for his 10th save. Chasen Shreve (3-1) picked up the win.
With the Backstreet Boys blaring on the stadium speakers just before the home team took the field, and other pop hits from 1997 when Colon cracked the major leagues spinning throughout the night, the Twins had a
Yankees 6, Twins 3
good time welcoming their newest pitcher who’s the oldest active player in baseball. LMFAO’s irreverent “Sexy and I Know It” thumped during Colon’s warmups at Target Field, the 45th major league ballpark at which he’s taken the mound.
Colon ( 2- 9) threw 82 pitches, including a called third strike on Judge with an 86 mph fastball that sent the major league home run leader back to the dugout to finish the first inning. He sprung off the mound to deftly field a slow roller and tag Garrett Cooper for the first out of the third.
Twins: LHP Craig Breslow ( rib soreness) returned from his rehab assignment, with 1B/ DH Kennys Vargas going down to Triple- A at manager Paul Molitor’s preference to carry an eight-man bullpen for the time being.