A home run by “Villain” Carlos Correa at Yankee Stadium would decide the win for the Twins
New York — Carlos Correa He answered the cheers of the home crowd with a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Minnesota Twins beat the New York Yankees 4-3 on Thursday.
With the win, Minnesota snapped a four-game winning streak.
The Puerto Rican Correa’s home run against Greg Weissert, after a failed review of video of a play requested by New York, led him to believe he was thrown out in the third.
According to the Yankees, Dominican Vandy Peralta (2-4) reached first base just in time when Venezuelan first baseman Marvin Gonzalez threw the ball to him, who was caught on a ground ball by Jake Cave. But replays showed Peralta held the ball against his body with his glove.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone quickly emerged from the dugout to argue with umpire Larry Vanover, before leaving the field in frustration.
One out later and on a 1-2 count, Correa hit his 18th home run slider, his second in two days.. He gave Minnesota a 4-2 lead and looked toward his dugout as he rounded third base and beat his chest.
“There’s extra motivation when you’re playing on a big stage like Yankee Stadium and you’re the villain.” Correa, the target of New York fans for his role in the Houston Astros cheating scandal, said.
“The fans are in the game every moment, a little more adrenaline, a little more focus, a little more hunger to win games,” he added.
Minnesota ended a 10-game losing streak in May 2019 at Yankee Stadium.
The Twins moved within a game and a half of first place in the AL Central before a weekend series against the top-seeded Cleveland Guardians in Minnesota.
“Ending on a strong note in a big series against Cleveland obviously gives the team a lot of confidence,” Correa said. “It’s time to get serious and get to work.”
Jorge Lopez threw a wild pitch that cost a run in the bottom of the inning, but the Yankees kept a runner on third in the final two innings.
Caleb Theilbar ended the eighth inning by striking out pinch hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who had four in his last 38 at-bats.
Stanton has not played since Monday’s leg injury.
New York loaded the bases in the ninth on Oswald Peraza’s single, a double by Aaron Hicks and Aaron Judge’s fourth intentional walk in three games.
Michael Fulmer earned his third save.
Griffin Jacks (6-3) pitched a hitless inning.
Yankees, Gleyber Torres of Venezuela 4-0; Marvin Gonzalez is 4-1 and Oswald Peraza is 3-1. Dominicans Miguel Andujar 3-2, one goal, two assists, and Estevan Florial 3-0.
For the Twins, Puerto Ricans Carlos Correa was 4-1, with one run, two RBI, and Jose Miranda was 4-1. Colombian Gio Ursehela scored one goal, 4-1. Dominicans Gary Sanchez 4-3, one goal, one assist, and Gilberto Celestino 3-1. Venezuela Jermaine Palacios 4-0.