The New York Yankees ended their seven-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, using Ben Rice’s go-ahead two-run homer and a strong outing from Gerrit Cole to get back in the win column. New York improved to 49-38, while Minnesota fell to 42-47.
After Trent Grisham opened the game with a leadoff home run in his return from a strained right hamstring, the contest was interrupted by a 53-minute rain delay following the top of the third inning. Once play resumed, Rice delivered the night’s biggest swing, crushing a full-count fastball from rookie Mike Paredes into the right-field seats for a two-run homer that gave the Yankees a 3-1 lead.
Cole, making his return to the mound after Carlos Rodón landed on the injured list, allowed two runs on five hits over five innings while striking out seven without issuing a walk.
The Yankees added insurance in the seventh when José Caballero drove in a run with a single before later scoring on Grisham’s sacrifice fly, marking the club’s first game with more than four runs in nearly two weeks.
Grisham finished with two RBIs in his return, while Rice’s 24th homer helped New York earn just its fourth victory in its last 15 games.
Fernando Cruz escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth by retiring Royce Lewis, and David Bednar struck out the side in the ninth to record his 17th save.
The Yankees and Twins continue their three-game series at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 p.m. Brendan Beck is expected to start for New York in place of the injured Carlos Rodón, while Minnesota is slated to send Zebby Matthews (4-5, 4.15 ERA) to the mound.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.