MINNEAPOLIS — Sonny Gray pitched seven scoreless innings and Joey Gallo homered as the two former Yankees helped the Minnesota Twins to a 6-1 win against New York on Monday night.
Jorge Polanco added two hits and three RBIs for Minnesota. Polanco has hit safely in all four games this season after his start was delayed due to left knee inflammation in the spring.
The Twins have won three of the first five meetings with their longtime nemesis this year. The Yankees are 100-41 against Minnesota in the regular season since 2002, the best record for any team versus one opponent during that span.
New York is also 16-2 against the Twins in the postseason during that stretch.
Gray (3-0) gave up three hits and struck out eight, dropping his ERA to a big league-best 0.62. The veteran right-hander, who went 15-16 with a 4.51 ERA in parts of two seasons for New York, has allowed two runs in 29 innings this season with 34 strikeouts.
Rookie right-hander Jhony Brito (2-2) had another tough outing against the Twins, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks. He threw 80 pitches in just 2 2/3 innings after he had his worst start against Minnesota in New York on April 13, giving up seven runs while getting just two outs.
The Yankees, who split the four-game series in New York with the Twins, were coming off their first series loss of the season at home against Toronto over the weekend.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: Manager Aaron Boone said RHP Lou Trivino had elbow pain while rehabbing from right biceps tendinitis. Trivino will travel to New York this week to see a doctor. … CF Harrison Bader (left oblique strain) will move his rehab assignment to Triple-A. Boone said Bader is still more than a week from returning. … RHP Tommy Kahnle (right biceps tendinitis) will throw off a mound for the first time at some point near the end of the current road trip. He’s been throwing from 120 feet.
Twins: RHP Kenta Maeda (ankle) threw a bullpen and is set to start Wednesday’s series finale. Maeda was hit by a comebacker in his last start. RHP Bailey Ober, who made a spot start Sunday and allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings, was optioned back to Triple-A St. Paul with Maeda ready.
UP NEXT
LHP Nestor Cortes (3-0, 3.09 ERA) starts Tuesday for New York. Minnesota will go with RHP Joe Ryan (4-0, 3.24).
Cortes permitted three earned runs last time out, breaking a streak of nine straight starts with two earned runs allowed or fewer. He’s given up three or fewer in his past 16 starts. Ryan had 10 strikeouts and allowed one run in seven innings in a win at Yankee Stadium on April 13.
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