New York @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( May 25, 2010 ) NY Yankees 1, Minnesota 0
The New York Yankees probably didn't enjoy their first taste of Target Field.
Rain washed out the conclusion of Tuesday’s series opener between the Yankees and the Minnesota Twins, so they’ll finish things up this afternoon before taking the field for their regularly scheduled game in the evening.
Tuesday’s game was halted with the score tied 0-0 and the Yankees coming to bat in the top of the sixth inning.
New York (26-18) enters today’s action five games back of division-leading Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East, while Minnesota (26-18) enjoys a 1 ½-game lead over Detroit in the Central Division race.
New York’s struggling offense couldn’t get going against Twins starter Scott Baker, who limited the Bronx Bombers to three hits and a walk in his five innings. Baker will be on the bench when the game resumes, which might be good news for the beleaguered Yankees.
A.J. Burnett faces the same predicament, after throwing five solid innings of his own. He’ll turn the ball over to his bullpen after surrendering just three hits Tuesday, walking two and striking out five.
Today’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies, so the teams should have no trouble getting in both games.
With the outcome of the series opener left in the hands of the relievers, the Twins could enjoy a sizeable edge.
Their bullpen boasts a 3.31 ERA – third-best in the American League and nearly a full run better than the Yankees’ crew of relievers (4.22).
Making that more remarkable is the fact that Minnesota has done it without injured closer Joe Nathan and with historically dependable setup man Pat Neshek tossing just six innings all season.
The second game features a duel between a pair of left-handers who are off to surprisingly strong starts.
The Twins send Francisco Liriano (4-3) to the mound with the hope that he can get back on track. Liriano has dropped his last three decisions, allowing 13 runs in his previous 16 2/3 innings. Prior to that, Liriano was a force, going 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA over his first five starts.
He was tagged for three runs on nine hits by the Yankees in a 7-1 loss on May 15, a game won by Andy Pettitte. And while he has pitched well against New York for his career – a 3.32 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 19 innings – Liriano has an 0-2 record to show for it.
The Yankees call on veteran southpaw Pettitte (5-1), who hit his first speed bump of the season last Thursday in a loss to Tampa Bay. Pettitte, who entered the game among the league leaders in ERA, was tagged for seven runs in five innings, surrendering three homers in the process.
Pettitte owns a 10-5 career record against the Twins. He was also the winning pitcher in New York’s 4-1 victory over Minnesota last Oct .11, eliminating the Twins from the postseason in what was the final game ever played at the Metrodome.