The Yankees blasted four home runs and got a strong start on the mound in Wednesday's 9-6 win over the Twins.

Here are the takeaways …

- Gerrit Cole entered Wednesday’s start with all eyes on him, following accusations from Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson regarding the league cracking down on foreign substances on the mound. Cole took the first round from Donaldson, as he struck him out with a wicked breaking ball in the first inning before shooting him a quick glare. Cole was locked in early, striking out four over his first two scoreless innings.

Cole allowed his first run in the third, as a fastball caught a bit too much of the plate and Jorge Polanco didn’t miss it, lining his seventh homer of the year. He allowed another solo homer to Miguel Sano in the bottom of the fifth, but it was an overall strong night for Cole, who went 6.0 innings, allowing just two earned on five hits while striking out nine without a walk.

And for those keeping track at home, Donaldson went 0-for-3 against Cole with two strikeouts and a pop out.

- Aaron Judge gave Cole a lead before the ace ever took the mound. In the top of the first, Judge took advantage of a Randy Dobnak hanging slider, lining a solo home run over the wall in left center for his 15^th long ball of the season.

- The Yankees made some two-out magic in the second to build on the lead for Cole. After a Kyle Higashioka single, Brett Gardner slashed a double into the gap in left center. Andrelton Simmons had some trouble handing the throw back into the infield, and Higashioka motored all the way from first to score to put the Yankees up 2-0.

- After a ripping a double in his first at-bat, Giancarlo Stanton absolutely demolished a three-run home run to dead center field. A three-run shot on another hanging breaking ball, Stanton’s homer traveled 423 feet high off the batter’s eye to put the Yankees up 5-0 in the third inning.

But he wasn’t done there. In the fifth inning, Stanton smashed his second homer of the game, this one to right center to put the Yankees up 7-1. The offensive onslaught continued in the inning, as Miguel Andujar belted a home run of his own, his fifth of the season. All five of Andujar’s homers this season have come in the last eight games.

- The Yankees pounded out 15 hits as a team, with Stanton and Gardner each collecting three apiece. Stanton drove in five and is now hitting .267 with an .844 OPS this season.

- Luis Cessa gave the Yankees two strong innings, but Brooks Kriske struggled in the ninth. He allowed four earned runs, including Polanco's second homer of the game, which led to Aroldis Chapman warming up. Ultimately, though, Kriske was able to close the door.

Here are the takeaways …

Highlights

Popular in the Community