MINNEAPOLIS – That’s more like the Twins the Yankees have come to know and beat up on.
After a brutal stretch for their offense over the better part of the last two weeks, the Yankees finally broke out the bats on Wednesday afternoon in a big way, leading to a much-needed laugher of a 12-6 win over the Twins at Target Field.
The Yankees (14-11) pounded out a season-high 14 hits to score a season-high 12 runs, which was more than they had pushed across in their last five games combined (eight runs).
In the process, the Yankees avoided being swept by the Twins (14-11) in a three-game series for the first time since 1991.
Aaron Judge, who survived an injury scare on his 31st birthday, led the way by going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and three RBIs.
Leadoff hitter Anthony Volpe chipped in two hits, two walks, three RBIs and three runs and Gleyber Torres added his first two extra-base hits in 14 games.
It was more than enough offense for Domingo German, despite the right-hander giving up six runs and three home runs across six-plus innings, including a two-run moonshot to Joey Gallo.
The Yankees have received poor production from the bottom half of their lineup for most of the season, but it got the scoring going on Wednesday with some small ball against Twins right-hander Kenta Maeda, who gave up 10 runs on 11 hits over three-plus innings.
Torres led off the second inning with a hustle double on a ground ball up the middle and took third on a throwing error.
He came in to score on Willie Calhoun’s single to first base, which Gallo knocked down but then threw to the wrong person covering first.
A bunt single from Isiah Kiner-Falefa and a walk by Oswaldo Cabrera loaded the bases with one out for Volpe, who delivered an RBI single the other way for the 2-0 lead.
Judge came up next and hooked his second double of the day to left field, this one clearing the bases to make it 5-0.
But the Yankees received a scare moments later, when Judge had an awkward dive while getting thrown out trying to steal third.
He came up favoring his right hand/wrist and went straight to the clubhouse, but ultimately remained in the game.
Kyle Higashioka started the Yankees’ six-run rally in the fourth inning with a leadoff single, followed by another bunt single from Cabrera, with both advancing a base on a throwing error.
Volpe knocked both in with a double to the gap for the 7-1 lead.
After Judge walked, Anthony Rizzo got in on the fun by roping a double to the gap, scoring both Volpe and Judge to make it 9-1.
Torres then capped off the outburst with a two-run home run to the second deck in left field, his first home run since April 3.
DJ LeMahieu, the only Yankee not to record at least one hit, was robbed of a home run in the eighth inning but settled for a sacrifice fly that made it 12-6.
