Live Blogging: Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees 09/18/2017

Minnesota Twjns at New York Yankees

Yankees TV Broadcast

Hello and welcome to another edition of 'Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball'. Tonight it is a battle of current A.L. Wild Card teams as the Minnesota Twins head to the Bronx, to take on the New York Yankees. The Yankees have the first wild card with a record of 82-67, while the Twins have a record of 78-71.

The Yankees are looking like they are going to play in October. While they are the first wild card in the American League, they are hoping to catch the Boston Red Sox, for the A.L. East title. The Yankees are 3 games behind the Red Sox.

The Twins only have the wild card to look forward to, when it comes to October baseball. The Twins are currently 2 games behind the Angels, for the final wild card in the American League. The Twins are hoping that they can have their slugger, Miguel Sano return from his shin injury.

Tonight's starting pitchers are right-hander Ervin Santana for the Twins, and Jaime Garcia for the Yankees. Santana comes into tonight's game, with a record of 15-7, a 3.35 ERA, and 158 Ks. Whereas, Garcia is 5-9, with 4.35 ERA, and 116 Ks.

It is the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees, coming up shortly.

Game Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Starting Lineups:
Minnesota Twins (78-71):
1. Brian Dozier 2B
2. Joe Mauer 1B
3. Byron Buxton CF
4. Jorge Polanco SS
5. Eddie Rosario RF
6. Eduardo Escobar 3B
7. Robbie Grossman DH
8. Jason Castro C
9. Ehire Adrianza LF
SP: Ervin Santana (RHP) (15-7, 3.35 ERA, and 158 Ks)

New York Yankees (82-67):
1. Brett Gardner LF
2. Aaron Judge RF
3. Gary Sanchez C
4. Didi Gregorius SS
5. Chase Headley DH
6. Starlin Castro 2B
7. Jacoby Ellsbury CF
8. Todd Frazier 3B
9. Greg Bird 1B
SP: Jaime Garcia (LHP) (5-9, 4.35 ERA, 116 Ks)
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Top of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Dozier
2. Mauer
3. Buxton
Jaime Garcia starting as Yankees pitcher.
Scores:
First pitch around 7:10 p.m. EDT.
Dozier strikes out swining. Sanchez had to put Dozier out at first. Sanchez to Bird. 1Out.
Mauer gets called out on strikes. 2 Outs.
Buxton strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Twins go down 1-2-3, in their half of 1st Inning.

Middle of 1st Inning:
MIN 0, NYY 0

Bottom of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Gardner
2. Judge
3. Sanchez
​​Gardner grounds out to Polanco. 1 Out.
HOME RUN: Aaron Judge hits a solo shot off of Erwin Santana. MIN 0, NYY 1
​Sanchez flies out to Buxton. 2 Outs.
Gregorius flies out to Adrianza. 3 Outs.

End of 1st Inning:
MIN 0, NYY 1

Top of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
4. Polanco 
5. Rosario
6. Escobar
​Polanco doubles to right field. Runner on 1st.
Rosario strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Escobar strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Grossman grounds out to Frazier. 3 Outs.
Twins strand a runner on base. 

Middle of 2nd Inning:
MIN 0, NYY 1

Bottom of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
5. Headley 
6. Castro 
7. Ellsbury
​Headley flies out to Adrianza. 1 Out.
Castro grounds out to Escobar. 2 Outs.
Ellsbury reaches first base on catcher's interference. Runner on 1st.
Frazier singles to left field. Ellsbury advances to third. Runners on 1st and 3rd. 
Santana currently at 39 pitches.
Bird gets called out on strikes, after an 8-pitch at-bat. 3 Outs.
Yankees strand a pair of baserunners. 

End of 2nd Inning: 
MIN 0, NYY 1

Top of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
8. Castro 
9. Adrianza
1. Dozier
Castro strikes out swinging. Sanchez throws Castro out at first. Sanchez to Bird. 1 Out.
Adrianza grounds out to Gregorius. 1 Out.
Garcia currently at 34 pitches.
Dozier gets called out on strikes. 3 Outs.
Twins go down 1-2-3, in their half of 3rd Inning.

Middle of 3rd Inning:
MIN 0, NYY 1

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
1. Gardner
2. Judge
3. Sanchez
​Santana currently at 42 pitches. 
Gardner singles to right field. Runner on 1st.
Gardner advances to second on a wild pitch by Santana. Runner on 2nd.
Judge strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Sanchez grounds out to Polanco. Gardner advances to third. 2 Outs. Runner on 3rd.
Gregorius strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Yankees leave Gardener stranded on base.

End of 3rd Inning:
MIN 0, NYY 1

Top of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Mauer
3. Buxton
4. Polanco
Scores:
Garcia currently at 37 pitches.
Mauer grounds out to Castro. 1 Out.
Buxton strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Polanco strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Twins go down 1-2-3, in their half of 4th Inning. Garcia has 9 strikeouts through 4 innings. 

Middle of 4th Inning:
MIN 0, NYY 1

Bottom of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Headley
6. Castro
7. Ellsbury
​Headley grounds out to Polanco. 1 Out.
Castro pops out to Polanco. 2 Outs.
Ellsbury singles to center field. Runner on 1st.
Ellsbury steals second base. Runner on 2nd. 
Santana currently at 68 pitches.
Frazier flies out to Rosario. 1 Out.
Yankees strand a base runnner on second base.

End of 4th Inning:
MIN 0, NYY 1

Top of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Rosario
6. Escobar
7. Grossman
​Garcia currently at 55 pitches.
Rosario singles to right center field. Runner on 1st.
Escobar singles to right field. Rosario advances to third. Runners on 1st and 3rd. 
Judge gets charged with a fielding error on single by Escobar. 
Grossman grounds into 5-4 fielder's choice. Rosario scores. Grossman safe at first. 1 Out. Runner on 1st. MIN 1, NYY 1
Chad Green (RHP) warming up in Yankees Bullpen.
Castro grounds into 4-6-3 double play. 3 Outs.

Middle of 5th Inning:
MIN 1, NYY 1

Bottom of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Bird
1. Gardner
2. Judge
​​Santana currently at 71 pitches.
Bird lines out to Rosario. 1 Out.
Gardner bunt singles to third. Runner on 1st. 
David Robertson warming up in Yankees Bullpen.
Gardner steals second base. Runner on 2nd. 
Judge flies out to Buxton. Gardner advances to third. 2 Outs. Runner on 3rd. 
Sanchez grounds out to Santana. 3 Outs.
Yankees strand Gardner on base. 

End of 5th Inning:
MIN 1, NYY 1

Top of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Adrianza
1. Dozier
2. Mauer
​Garcia currently at 68 pitches.
Adrianza lines out to Gardner. 1 Out.
Dozier grounds out to Gregorius. 2 Outs.
Mauer singles to right field. Runner on 1st.
PITCHING CHANGE: David Robertson (RHP) replaces Jaime Garcia as Yankees pitcher.  MIN 1, NYY 1
​Buxton strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Twins strand a base runner on first base.

Middle of 6th Inning:
MIN 1, NYY 1

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
4, Gregorius
5. Headley 
6. Castro
​Gregorius flies out to Buxton. 1 Out.
Santana currently at 88 pitches.
Headley singles to right field. Runner on 1st.
Castro singles to left field. Headley advances to second. Runners on 1st and 2nd.
Trevor Hildenberger (RHP) warming up in Twins Bullpen.
Headley and Castro move 90 feet on a passed ball. 
Twins elect to intentionally pass on Jacoby Ellsbury. Bases Loaded.
Frazier hits RBI Sacrifice Fly to Buxton, scoring Headley. 2 Outs. Runners on 1st and 2nd. MIN 1, NYY 2
PITCHING CHANGE: Trevor Hildenberger (RHP) replaces Ervin Santana as Twins pitcher.
Bird grounds out to Mauer, unassisted. 3 Outs.
Yankees strand a couple of runners on base.

End of 6th Inning:
MIN 1, NYY 2

Top of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Polanco
5. Rosario
6. Escobar
Scores:
​Polanco grounds out to Frazier. 1 Out.
​Rosario strikes out swinging. Sanchez throws out Rosario at first. Sanchez to Bird. 2 Outs.
Escobar flies out to Gardner. 3 Outs.
Twins go down 1-2-3, in their half of 7th Inning.

Middle of 7th Inning:
MIN 1, NYY 2

Bottom of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Gardner
2. Judge 
3. Sanchez
​Dellin Betances (RHP) warming up in Yankees Bullpen.
Gardner singles to center field. Runner on 1st.
Gardner steals another base. Runner on 2nd. 
Judge flies out to Dozier. 1 Out.
Sanchez grounds out to Escobar. 2 Outs.
PITCHING CHANGE: Taylor Rogers (LHP) replaces Trevor Hildenberger as Twins pitcher.
Gregorius strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Yankees strand a runner on second base. 

End of 7th Inning:
MIN 1, NYY 2

Top of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
7. Grossman
8. Castro
9. Adrianza
​PITCHING CHANGE: Dellin Betances (RHP) replaces David Robertson as Yankees pitcher.
Grossman gets hit by a pitch. Runner on 1st.
PINCH-HITTING: Zach Granite pinch-hitting for Jason Castro. 
Granite sacrifice bunts to Bird. Bird to Castro. Grossman advances to second. 1 Out. Runner on 2nd.
PINCH-HITTING: Max Kepler pinch-hitting for Ehire Adrianza.
Kepler draws a base on balls. Runners on 1st and 2nd.
Aroldis Chapman (LHP) warming up in Yankees Bullpen.
Grossman and Kepler advance 90 feet on a wild pitch by Betances. Runners on 2nd and 3rd.
Dozier draws a base on balls. Bases Loaded.
PITCHING CHANGE: Aroldis Chapman (LHP) replaces Dellin Betances as Yankees pitcher. MIN 1, NYY 2
​Mauer strikes out swinging on a 103 mph fastball by Chapman. 2 Outs.
Buxton flies out to Judge. 3 Outs.
Twins left the bases loaded. 

Middle of 8th Inning:
MIN 1, NYY 2

Bottom of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Headley
6. Castro
7. Ellsbury
​SUBSTITUTION: Chris Gimenez comes in to play catcher for the Twins. 
Defensive Switch: Max Kepler stays in the game to play right field. Eddie Rosario goes to left field.
Headley flies out to Kepler. 1 Out.
PITCHING CHANGE: Tyler Duffey (RHP) replaces Taylor Rogers as Twins pitcher.
Castro grounds out to Escobar. 2 Outs.
Ellsbury reaches to first, on a fielding error by Duffey. Runner on 1st.
Ellsbury caught stealing second base. 
MANAGER'S CHALLENGE: Giradi challenges call that Ellsbury is out at second. Call overturned. Ellsbury is safe at second. Runner on 2nd.
Frazier grounds out to Escobar. 3 Outs.
Yankees strand Ellsbury at second. 

End of 8th Inning:
MIN 1, NYY 2

Top of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Polanco
5. Rosario
6. Escobar
Polanco lines out to Gardner. 1 Out.
Rosario fouls out to Castro. 2 Outs.
Escobar strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Yankees go down 1-2-3, in their half of 9th Inning.
Chapman recorded a 5-out save. 

Final:
MIN 1, NYY 2
MIN: (78-72)
NYY: (83-67)
W: Robertson (9-2)
L: Santana (15-8)
SV: Chapman (19) 
PoG: Jaime Garcia (NYY) ND, 5.2 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 9 Ks, 0 BB​   
ToG: 3:16

Final Thoughts: Well the Yankees played some smallball, and on a night where runs come at premium, the Bronx Bombers manufactured the game-winning run.  
As for the Twins, you wonder if they are beginning to run out of gas.  The question still remains, can they hold on to the final wild card, without Miguel Sano?

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball'. Thanks for visiting this page.   

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