About Last Night: One In A Row. Yankees 5, Twins 2

About Last Night: One In A Row. Yankees 5- Twins 2

By Tim Kabel

July 4, 2026

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The Yankees snapped their seven-game losing streak last night, beating their perennial patsy, the Minnesota Twins 5-2.

Trent Grisham returned to the lineup with a bang, going 2-3, including a leadoff home run. He also had a sacrifice fly. After Grisham singled in the third inning, Ben Rice hit a two-run home run, which was his 24th home run of the season.

After Gerrit Cole struck out Brooks Lee in the third inning, the game was halted for a 53-minute rain delay. During the delay, the centerfield scoreboard showed the end of Argentina’s 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde in the World Cup. I'm somewhat shocked that Aaron Boone did not put on a soccer uniform and dribble a ball or around the infield during the delay.

Gerrit Cole was somewhat better than he was in his last few starts. He lasted 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits. He struck out 7 and walked none. Brent Headrick, (of course), Paul Blackburn, Fernando Cruz, and David Bednar each pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Fernando Cruz was the only one who allowed a hit. Bednar struck out the side in the 9th inning to earn his 17th save.

The Yankees added two runs in the seventh inning. Ryan McMahon doubled and scored on a Jose Caballero single. Caballero then stole second and advanced to third on an Austin Wells sacrifice bunt. Trent Grisham drove in Caballero with a sacrifice fly.

It is great that the Yankees ended the losing streak last night but let's not go overboard. There is still trouble in River City to borrow a line from The Music Man. Before the game, Carlos Rodon was placed on the 15-day IL with left elbow inflammation. That is not a good thing. Also, Carlos Lagrange, who was being converted into a short reliever in order to join the Major League team, was placed on the IL with a capsular strain of his right shoulder. He won't even be able to throw for six weeks. At the absolute earliest, he would be able to join the Yankees bullpen sometime in September.

When Austin Wells’ biggest offensive contribution is a sacrifice bunt and it is celebrated as if he hit for the cycle, that's a problem. Wells is now batting .151 for the season. By the end of the weekend, he could be closer to batting .100 than he will be to batting .200. He is the Yankees starting catcher. He makes Fran Healy look like Thurman Munson. At one point during the game, Wells wandered into the way of Paul Goldschmidt who was attempting to catch a popup and the foul ball hit Wells in the helmet. The Yankees need an upgrade at catcher desperately. 

Before the game, Suzyn Waldman announced on the broadcast that Jose Caballero will now be the regular shortstop. Apparently, Anthony Volpe will play once in a while, but Caballero will be the primary shortstop and will only play other positions when there is an emergency or a dire need for him to do so. Let's see how long that lasts. You know, I was thinking about who Aaron Boone reminded me of as far as his leadership style and then it came to me. He is just like the mayor in Jaws. When he insists that Anthony Volpe is a tremendous player and deserves to be the shortstop, I can just imagine him saying, “The beaches are open. The beaches are perfectly safe. Come on out and have a great time.” 

Seriously though, if Caballero is actually going to be the starting shortstop, what purpose does Volpe serve on the roster? He can only play one position, shortstop. He has turned into a horrible base runner. So, to have him there to fill in for Caballero once in a while is a waste of a roster spot.

With Carlos Rodon out, tomorrow's starter will be Brendan Beck. Ryan Weathers will start on Sunday. The one game-winning streak is in jeopardy. That's baseball, Suzyn.

A Few Tidbits: 

·       The Yankees did not make an error last night.  Normally, that would not be noteworthy but after the team made 17 errors in their previous 12 games, it is.

·       The Yankees are 128-46 against the Twins since 2002. That includes postseason games. If the Yankees could play the Royals and Twins exclusively for the whole season, they would definitely win the division.

·       This was the Yankees fourth win in their last fifteen games.

·       The Yankees scored more than 4 runs in a game for the first time in 13 games.

·       Yesterday was Brian Cashman’s 59th birthday. I retired at 59. I recommend it highly-for him.

I was going to ask for the day off, but I believe that Dr. Semendinger was doing the chicken dance at Taylor Swift's wedding, so I wrote this article.

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Today, the Yankees will play the second game of this three-game series against the Twins at 1:35 PM at Yankee Stadium. Brendan Beck, (0-0, 6.00 ERA) will face Zebby Matthews, (4-5, 4.15 ERA).  Zebby, wasn't that the grandfather's name on The Waltons?