Yankees Sweep Twins

Aug 20(Yankee Stadium) Yankees 6 Twins 3

A 2 out triple by Kent Hrbek gets Minnesota started. Stan Bahnsen then proceeds to load the bases with 2 walks, but gets out of the inning with a Tim Teufel ground out. This set the tone for the game as each pitcher seemed to be in a jam most of the time, with the Yankees making the most of their chances. The Twins grabbed the 1-0 lead in the third only to surrender it back to The Yanks on a two run homer by the hot hitting Bobby Murcer. The twins go ahead 3-2 in the fifth, but blow a chance to break the game open with runners on second and third and still only 1 out. But a Tim Teufel strikeout followed by an Engle groundout ends the inning. Leading off the sixth inning Bobby Murcer hits a double off the wall, followed by a barrage of Yankee hits and the score becomes 6-3 Yanks. That’s the way the score stayed for the rest of the game, with Jack Aker getting his first save pitching the ninth after Bahnsen was lifted for a pinch hitter in the eight.

Aug 21(Yankee Stadium) Yankees 2 Twins 1

Game two of the series turned into a pitching duel between Steve Kline and Ken Schrom After three scoreless innings the rain causes a 34 minute delay, but both pitchers appear ready to continue. Kline manages to get through the inning giving up a double to the hot hitting Hrbek, but no runs. Schrom on the other hand has a little more trouble, allowing the scorching hot Murcer to get a single. Followed by a Row white single Murcer is at third with one out. He pops up Blomberg for the second out, but Felipe Alou delivers the single to give the Yankees the lead after four 1-0. Minnesota continues to threaten each inning but just can’t deliver the hits when needed. In the sixth it’s Murcer again doing damage with a homer to left, his second in as many days. It stays like this until the exciting eight inning. A Gary Gaetti single followed by a Hrbek double makes the situation - Twins down 2 runs, 2 outs and men on second and third. Brunansky with a grounder between third and short for a single. Gaetti scores and here comes Hrbek rounding third going for home, the throw to the plate from Roy White and the tag by catcher Jake Gibbs for the out to end the inning. With the Twins still down a run and a lefty and righty warming in the bull pen Steve Kline retires the side in the ninth for his second complete game win.

Aug 22(Metrodome) Yankees 8 Twins 4

The Yankees grab an early lead in the top half of the first on a Bobby Murcer two run homer, third in three games. Minnesota got one run back after a Kent Hrbek single, one of his many in the series, and an RBI from Randy Bush. The next five innings turned into a pitchers duel between Mel Stottlemyre and Frank Viola as neither team could score. Then in the top of the seventh it falls apart for Viola. The Yanks bat around that inning with Danny Cater leading off and getting two singles. The Yankees scored six runs to take a 8-1 lead. The Twins scored 1 in the seventh and two in the eight on a Tim Laudner homerun. To little to late though as Mel Stottlemyre gets the win to go to 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA.

--Contributed by Joe Mach--