Yankees at Twins
The Minnesota Twins lead the major leagues in home runs this season, and the club wasn't shy about giving the New York Yankees a taste of their power in the series opener. After launching at least five homers for the eighth time this season, the host Twins aim to secure a series victory when the division-leading clubs reconvene on Tuesday.
Mitch Garver belted a pair of solo shots to give him five homers in his last five games and Max Kepler went deep for the second time in as many days as American League Central-leading Minnesota recorded an 8-6 win on Monday. Jorge Polanco, who is riding a five-game hitting streak, joined Nelson Cruz in going deep to raise the Twins' home run total to 187 on the season. While Minnesota is clinging to a three-game advantage over second-place Cleveland, AL East-leading New York has a nine-game cushion over Tampa Bay despite losing two straight after winning its previous five contests. DJ LeMahieu belted a two-run homer to highlight his three-hit performance in the opener and extend his hitting streak to nine games, during which he has gone 15-for-39 with three homers, six RBIs and seven runs scored.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (New York), FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Domingo German (12-2, 3.38 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kyle Gibson (9-4, 4.02)
German owns a 3-0 record and 1.50 ERA since returning from the injured list after yielding two runs and four hits in six innings of a 6-2 victory versus Tampa Bay on Thursday. The 26-year-old Dominican's two runs allowed came via a pair of solo blasts, lifting his season total to 15 homers surrendered in 16 appearances. German recorded his first win in three career starts against Minnesota after permitting one run and four hits in 6 2/3 frames of a 4-1 triumph on May 5.
Gibson improved to 2-0 in his last six starts on Thursday after allowing three runs and six hits in seven innings of a 6-3 victory versus Oakland. The 31-year-old, however, fell to 1-6 with a 6.50 ERA in nine career starts against the Yankees after permitting five runs - two earned - in five frames of a 6-3 setback on May 3. Gary Sanchez belted the first of his two solo homers in that contest off Gibson, who also has struggled versus Edwin Encarnacion (10-for-33, four homers, 11 RBIs).
WALK-OFFS
1. Encarnacion is 12-for-27 with two homers, nine RBIs and five runs scored versus Minnesota this season.
2. Twins 1B Miguel Sano is 2-for-14 in his last four games.
3. Sanchez is just 3-for-28 with eight strikeouts in his last seven contests.