Josh Bell homers twice, and five teammates joined the power surge, as the Minnesota Twins pounded out six home runs in an 11-4 demolition of the New York Yankees on Saturday at Yankee Stadium. It was the most home runs Minnesota has hit in a single game in nearly three years, and it could not have come against a more beatable opponent.
The Yankees, already dealing with pitching injuries and offensive slumps, had no answer for a Twins lineup that got contributions from top to bottom. Bell’s two-homer, three-RBI night stood out even in a game full of long balls, and it helped Minnesota even the weekend series after dropping the opener on Friday.
Game Summary
Minnesota jumped on New York early and never let go. The Twins scored three runs in the first inning, added two more in the second, and kept building throughout the afternoon, cruising to an 11-4 final. Six different swings left the yard for Minnesota, a rare offensive explosion that buried the Yankees before they could mount any real response.
New York had won Friday night’s series opener 5-2, snapping a seven-game losing streak. That momentum disappeared quickly on Saturday, as the Yankees’ pitching staff, already thin due to injuries, could not contain Minnesota’s lineup.
Josh Bell’s Big Night
Josh Bell homers were the story of the game. The switch-hitting designated hitter went 3-for-5 with two home runs, a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. His first homer came in the seventh inning, a solo shot to left field that extended Minnesota’s lead. His second came one inning later, a two-run blast to right-center that put the game out of reach.
Bell has been one of Minnesota’s most consistent hitters in recent weeks, and Saturday’s performance continued that stretch. When Josh Bell homers in a game like this, it tends to spark the rest of the Twins lineup, and Saturday was no exception.
Inning-by-Inning Breakdown
- 1st Inning: Byron Buxton doubled home a run, and Kody Clemens followed with a two-run homer to make it 3-0.
- 2nd Inning: Luke Keaschall and Alex Jackson hit back-to-back home runs, pushing the lead to 5-0.
- 4th Inning: Trevor Larnach homered for Minnesota; Jasson Dominguez answered with a solo shot for New York.
- 5th Inning: Max Schuemann’s two-run homer and a Cody Bellinger RBI double cut the Twins’ lead to 6-4.
- 7th Inning: Josh Bell homers for the first time, a solo shot, making it 7-4.
- 8th Inning: Minnesota added four more runs, capped by Bell’s second homer, a two-run shot, extending the lead to 11-4.
Key Statistics
- Final Score: Twins 11, Yankees 4
- Home Runs: Minnesota — Larnach, Keaschall, Jackson, Clemens, Bell (x2); New York — Schuemann, Dominguez
- Josh Bell: 3-for-5, 2 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R
- Kody Clemens: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
- Winning Pitcher: Taylor Rogers (4-3)
- Losing Pitcher: Brendan Beck (0-1)
- Twins Starter Zebby Matthews: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 2 HR allowed
- Season Records: Twins improve to 43-47; Yankees fall to 49-39
Yankees’ Pitching Struggles
New York’s pitching problems were on full display Saturday. With Carlos Rodon sidelined by left elbow inflammation, rookie right-hander Brendan Beck was forced into his first career major league start. Beck lasted only 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on five hits, including three home runs.
The Yankees have leaned heavily on their bullpen and inexperienced arms in recent weeks, and Saturday’s outing reinforced concerns about the team’s rotation depth heading into the second half of the season.
Beck’s rough debut came at a difficult time for a Yankees pitching staff already stretched thin. New York entered the weekend having been outscored 43-17 during a seven-game losing streak that ended just one night earlier, and Saturday showed how quickly things can unravel again without reliable innings from the rotation.
Yankees’ Broader Slump and Injury Concerns
Saturday’s loss did not happen in isolation. New York has been dealing with a rough offensive stretch across several key hitters. Ben Rice entered the game batting just .143 over his previous 13 games, Paul Goldschmidt was hitless in his last 20 at-bats, and Cody Bellinger had managed only a .102 average over his previous 14 games before Saturday.
The Yankees have also been without Aaron Judge, who has missed extended time with a fractured right rib, and New York is 12-15 since losing him from the lineup. Rookie center fielder Spencer Jones was optioned to the minors earlier in the series after batting .233 in 30 games, another sign of a lineup searching for consistency.
Historically, this matchup has heavily favored New York. The Yankees had won 12 of their previous 14 meetings with Minnesota, and the Twins entered the weekend having lost 32 of their past 38 games at Yankee Stadium across regular season and postseason play combined. Saturday’s result was a rare exception to that trend.
Twins’ Recent Form
Minnesota’s offensive outburst came on the heels of a productive stretch against AL West competition. The Twins had won two of three games against the Houston Astros and two of three against the Colorado Rockies in the days leading up to the Yankees series, showing signs of building momentum even before Saturday’s power display.
Center fielder Byron Buxton had missed four straight games earlier in the week because of a right hip impingement before returning to the lineup for this series. His RBI double in the first inning Saturday helped set the tone for what became a dominant offensive afternoon for Minnesota.
Why This Win Matters for the Twins
A six-homer road win over a division rival is the kind of performance that can shift momentum for a team looking to build consistency. Minnesota has had an up-and-down season, and games like this, where the lineup clicks from top to bottom, offer a blueprint for what the Twins can look like when healthy and locked in.
For a team still finding its footing in the standings, seeing Josh Bell homers alongside contributions from Buxton, Clemens, Larnach, Keaschall and Jackson is an encouraging sign of lineup depth.
What’s Next for Both Teams
Minnesota will look to carry this offensive energy into its next series, hoping the power surge is a sign of things to come rather than a one-off outburst. New York, meanwhile, needs better performances from its starting rotation to avoid slipping back into the extended losing stretch it just escaped.
Key Takeaways
- Josh Bell homers twice, driving in three runs in a dominant Twins win.
- Minnesota hit six home runs total, its most in a single game in nearly three years.
- The Twins split the weekend series after losing Friday’s opener.
- Yankees rookie Brendan Beck struggled in his first career start.
- New York’s rotation depth remains a concern amid ongoing injuries.
FAQ
How many home runs did Josh Bell hit against the Yankees?
Bell hit two home runs, finishing 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
How many total home runs did the Twins hit in the game?
The Twins hit six home runs, their most in a single game in nearly three years.
What was the final score of the game?
The Minnesota Twins defeated the New York Yankees 11-4.
Who pitched for the Yankees, and how did he perform?
Rookie right-hander Brendan Beck made his first career start and allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings, taking the loss.
Conclusion
Saturday’s game was defined by one clear storyline: Josh Bell homers twice and the Twins’ offense erupts for six home runs to steamroll a struggling Yankees team. Minnesota’s power display, paired with New York’s ongoing pitching issues, made this a lopsided result that could carry meaning for both clubs as the season heads toward its stretch run.
