Slugger Luke Voit hit a two-run RBI double in the third inning in a victory Thursday by the New York Yankees over the Minnesota Twins 7 × 5 in the majors for their seventh straight win.
Voit made his third start at leadoff and was New York’s designated hitter now that the team is comfortable playing Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield.
Voit’s drive gave the Yankees a 3-0 lead over John Gant (0-1), ultimately the loser, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Anthony Rizzo.
Voit’s fatal blow came two nights after he drove in the deciding runs on a doubleheader sweep over the Boston Red Sox.
Kyle Higashioka homered and started the four-run inning with an RBI double. Bronx native shortstop Andrew Velázquez, who had two hits, also stole a base, the New York team’s 30th base since the All-Star break.
Hardy slugger Stanton added a home run to the win in the eighth.
Winning pitcher Jameson Taillon (8-4) threw a shutout through the fifth inning before allowing four straight hits with one out. He allowed three runs and five hits for his seventh consecutive victory.
Jake Cave and Miguel Sanó each hit home runs and Jorge Polanco dispatched a two-run double for the Twins.
The Yankees are 19-5 since losing three of four at Boston on July 22-25. After a three-game sweep of the Red Sox, the Yankees stayed one game ahead of the Oakland Athletics for the first AL wild-card spot.
– Votto punishes Marlins –
In Cincinnati, Canadian slugger Joey Votto hit a three-run homer and Luis Castillo pitched seven solid innings as the Reds beat the Miami Marlins 6-1.
Votto’s hit was his 27th homer, leading the team, which capped a fourth inning of four touchdowns.
The victory went to Castillo (7-12), averaging 97 mph on his fastball, allowing eight hits and striking out seven. Michael Lorenzen retired the Marlins in order in the eighth and Tony Santillán did the same in the ninth.
Kyle Farmer and Jonathan India each hit double scorers for the Reds, who bounced back after losing two of three to the Chicago Cubs.
Cincinnati now moved to a San Diego Padres game for the second wild-card spot in the National League.
Colombian catcher Jorge Alfaro had an RBI single in the fourth for the Marlins’ only run. (AFP)