​NEW YORK (AP) — Ben Rice delivered a go-ahead two-run homer in the third inning after a rain delay, lifting the New York Yankees to a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins and snapping a seven-game skid Friday night. Trent Grisham also contributed with a leadoff homer and a sacrifice fly in his return from a strained right hamstring, while Gerrit Cole (3-3) pitched five innings to help end the Yankees’ longest slide since their nine-game drought from August 12-22, 2023. The game paused after Cole struck out Brooks Lee to end the third, with a 53-minute delay during which the center field scoreboard displayed Argentina’s 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde in the World Cup.
Grisham’s single set the stage for Rice, who lofted a full-count fastball from rookie starter Mike Paredes into the right-field seats, giving Rice his 24th homer and helping the Yankees win for the fourth time in 15 games and improve to 12-2 against the Twins in the last 14 meetings. After Carlos Rodón was placed on the 10-day injured list with left elbow inflammation, Cole allowed two runs and five hits over five innings, striking out seven and walking none while warming up in the bullpen when Rice homered.
José Caballero added an RBI single in the seventh and scored on Grisham’s fly ball as the Yankees produced more than four runs for just the second time in 13 games. Fernando Cruz stranded the bases loaded by retiring Royce Lewis to end the eighth, and David Bednar returned from the paternity list to strike out the side in the ninth for his 17th save. Kody Clemens homered in the first inning and Victor Caratini added an RBI single in the fourth for Minnesota, who have now lost three of their last 10 road games. The Twins played without Byron Buxton for the fourth straight game due to a right hip impingement. Paredes (0-2) yielded three runs and four hits in four innings.
Up next, Minnesota will start RHP Zebby Matthews (4-5, 4.15 ERA) on Saturday. The Yankees had not yet announced Rodón’s replacement starter.