Oct 3, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) hits a two run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the fourth inning in the 2017 American League wildcard playoff baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Photo Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK — Luis Severino was knocked out just one out into the first inning, but Didi Gregorius hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the first, and the New York Yankees stormed back for an 8-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the American League wild-card game on Tuesday.
Gregorius got the Yankees right back in the game after Severino was booed off the mound for allowing three runs and four hits. Homers from Aaron Judge and Brett Gardner helped New York grab a 7-4 lead after four innings, and the Yankees’ bullpen took it from there.
After Severino’s short outing, four New York relievers combined on the final 26 outs. Chad Green allowed one run in two innings before David Robertson (1-0) pitched a career-high 3 1/3 scoreless innings and was awarded the win by the official scorer.
Tommy Kahnle delivered 2 1/3 scoreless frames, and Aroldis Chapman finished it off after allowing a hit and striking out three in the ninth.
Greg Bird added a RBI single as the Yankees earned their first postseason win since beating the Baltimore Orioles in Game 5 of the AL Division Series on Oct. 12, 2012. The Yankees advanced to face the defending AL champion Indians in the AL Division Series starting Thursday in Cleveland.
Aaron Hicks drove in New York’s final run with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh.
Brian Dozier and Eddie Rosario homered off Severino for Minnesota, which dropped its 13th straight postseason game since Oct. 5, 2004, at Yankee Stadium.
Byron Buxton drove in the other Minnesota run before leaving with a back injury.
Minnesota’s Ervin Santana allowed three hits and four runs in two innings. Jose Berrios (0-1) allowed three runs and five hits in three frames.
The Twins stunned the crowd by taking a 3-0 lead during a 21-minute top of the first.
Five pitches in, Dozier slugged a 99 mph fastball into the first row of the left field seats. After Jorge Polanco drew a one-out walk, Rosario lifted a 1-1 slider into the first row of the right field seats.
Rosario’s homer prompted Green to begin warming up, and the reliever entered after Severino gave up a single to Eduardo Escobar and a double to Max Kepler.
Green prevented further damage by striking out Buxton and Jason Castro.
The Yankees wasted little time coming back, opening the first with a walk by Gardner and a base hit by Judge. After Santana retired Gary Sanchez, Gregorius lifted a full-count fastball well into the right field seats to tie the game 3-3.
Gardner made it 4-3 when he sent a full-count fastball into the right field seats moments after Buxton crashed into the center field wall to rob Todd Frazier of an extra-base hit.
Minnesota loaded the bases against Green with one out in the third and tied the game at 4 when Buxton beat out a potential double-play ball as Polanco scored.
New York quickly broke the deadlock in the bottom of the third when Sanchez doubled and scored standing up on a sharp base hit to right by Bird. The lead grew to 7-4 when Judge lined a 0-1 curveball into the left field seats for a two-run homer with one out in the fourth.
NOTES: Twins manager Paul Molitor said the decision to keep Miguel Sano (shin) off the roster stemmed from the designated hitter not being able to generate enough force and power with his front leg during batting practice Monday. Molitor also said Sano was experiencing some discomfort during the Sunday game. … New York LHP Chasen Shreve, who is among several major-leaguers from Las Vegas, threw out the ceremonial first pitch in tribute to the victims of the mass shooting on Sunday. … RF Aaron Judge was the first Yankees rookie to homer in a postseason game since Hideki Matsui in Game 2 of the 2003 World Series.
