Though Bellinger’s home run gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead, the Twins’ lineup appeared energized by the deficit. Trevor Larnach drew a leadoff walk in the fourth inning off Yankees starter Cam Schlittler, and Buxton followed with a double. Luke Keaschall tied the score with a ground-out RBI.
Two innings later, after Schlittler gave way to Yerry de los Santos, the Twins struck. OK, the first two hits, a couple of well-placed ground balls by Buxton and Keaschall, didn’t leave the infield, but Kody Clemens’ definitely did. He smacked the eighth pitch of his at-bat, a 3-2 high fastball, into the gap in right-center, and it rolled to the warning track, scoring the two baserunners. Clemens went to third when center fielder Trent Grisham bobbled the ball.
“It’s cool, for sure, to have a big hit here. It’s my first hit here, I think,” Clemens said, accurately. “With the history and being with my family and all — I mean, I spent my boyhood around here. So it’s great. Just glad I came up in a spot like that and executed.”
The Twins’ Kody Clemens slides into third base during the sixth inning Wednesday night. He hit a two-run double and then advanced on an error. (Yuki Iwamura/The Associated Press)
Lewis followed with a two-out double that landed just inside the foul line in the left-field corner — Cuzzi territory, for you Twins history buffs, though this one was called correctly — Clemens scored the Twins’ fourth run.
That was plenty of support for Ryan, who gave up only four hits.
