Max Fried gave the Yankees the kind of seven-inning start they wanted after Monday’s playoff-clinching celebration, and New York answered with an 8-1 win over the Twins on Tuesday night at Target Field. Cody Bellinger supplied an early jolt, Spencer Jones broke it open late, and the Yankees kept their attention fixed on the Rays waiting down the road.
Yankees stay sharp in Minneapolis
SEO Title: Yankees Beat Twins 8-1 as Max Fried Works Seven Strong Innings
SEO Description: Max Fried threw seven efficient innings, Cody Bellinger homered and Spencer Jones added a three-run blast as the Yankees beat Minnesota 8-1 at Target Field.
The result
New York came in at 88-63, one day removed from locking up its postseason berth, but there was no sign of a slow start. Bellinger turned on a Bailey Ober fastball with one out in the first and sent it beyond the right-center wall for a two-run homer.
The Yankees built their lead from there, while Fried controlled the night with an economical outing. The left-hander threw 88 pitches, 58 for strikes, to record 21 outs in his longest appearance since April 22, when he went eight innings against Boston.
Fried improved to 5-4 after allowing only one run. Emmanuel Rodriguez brought home Minnesota’s lone run with a two-out single in the second, but Fried promptly picked Rodriguez off first base to end the inning. He struck out six, issued no walks and produced his first walk-free start since April 11 at Tampa Bay.
Fried said it felt good to deliver a complete starter’s workload without pitch-count restrictions. Still, he said he wants to sharpen up as the schedule turns toward a major division series.
Manager Aaron Boone liked the way Fried challenged hitters, got ahead in counts and worked with conviction through his mix. Boone said the club may be able to extend Fried a bit more in his next appearance.
Bellinger finished 3-for-4 and raised his average to .272, his best mark since June 22. He has hit four homers over his past seven games, going 11-for-27 (.407) with nine RBIs during that stretch.
Boone said Bellinger’s swing has been in a good place for several weeks, with a path that remains through the hitting zone and a better selection of pitches to attack. After a brief rough patch before his injury, Boone believes the outfielder has returned to where he needs to be.
Jones provided the loudest swing of the later innings. The rookie center fielder drilled a three-run homer off left-hander Taylor Rogers during a four-run sixth, pushing the game out of reach. It was Jones’ 10th home run of the season.
That made Jones the 11th Yankee with at least 10 homers this year, a club milestone not reached since 2019, when New York set its franchise record with 306 long balls.
Jones has also made Boone’s earlier caution against left-handed pitching obsolete. After Tuesday, Jones owned a .435/.490/.761 line against lefties. Boone said he initially wanted to introduce the rookie gradually in those matchups, but Jones has forced his way into them and has looked composed against difficult southpaws.
Aaron Judge did not play as he continues his return from a fracture in his right rib cage. Boone nevertheless started seven players who had been in Monday’s lineup, with little room for a full rest day while New York tries to gain ground in the AL East.
Tampa Bay beat Oakland 2-1 on Tuesday, leaving the Rays at 91-59 and 3 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees.
The rotation next
Fried is expected to face Tampa Bay next Tuesday during one game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, part of a four-game series that could carry a postseason edge despite arriving before October.
“It will feel like playoff baseball,” Fried said of the upcoming matchup. He described the Yankees and Rays as two strong clubs headed straight at one another, adding that he is eager to take part in the series.
