Bombers let dramatic win slip away

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 17, 2026

The Minnesota Twins defeated the New York Yankees 5-4 in 13 innings at Target Field, with Yankees star Aaron Judge exiting early due to leg tightness. This loss hinders the Yankees' attempt to close a four-game deficit in the AL East with only 10 games left, complicated further by Judge’s injury and late-game defensive errors.

MINNEAPOLIS — The New York Yankees fell to the Minnesota Twins 5-4 in a marathon 13-inning game at Target Field on Wednesday, ending their hopes of completing a series sweep and marking a night highlighted by an early injury to star slugger Aaron Judge.

Judge exited the game in the sixth inning due to right lower leg tightness, adding to the Yankees’ challenges as they seek to close a four-game gap behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East with just 10 games remaining in the season.

Despite Judge’s early departure, the Yankees mounted a resilient comeback in the late innings. Anthony Volpe tied the game with a two-run double in the ninth inning, followed by Ali Sánchez delivering a go-ahead single in the 10th. José Caballero extended the lead with a sacrifice fly in the 11th, and the Yankees appeared poised to break the game open in the 12th after loading the bases with no outs.

However, the momentum shifted when Heliot Ramos, who had pinch-hit earlier for Judge, hit into a double play on a chopper back to the mound. Sánchez then struck out, stifling the scoring opportunity.

The Twins managed to escape further damage in the 12th inning thanks to a combination of a strategic intentional walk, a pickoff, and a double play against Yankees reliever John Schreiber. In the bottom of the 13th, the Twins secured the win on a ground ball that slipped under the glove of Yankees outfielder George Lombard Jr. The ball had bounced off the mound en route to the outfielder, setting up Victor Caratini’s game-winning single.

Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the difficulty of the loss, expressing frustration over the missed chances and defensive miscue that ultimately decided the contest. He noted the importance of moving forward as the team prepares to face the Arizona Diamondbacks next.

On the mound, Yankees starter Carlos Rodón delivered a solid outing, allowing two runs over six innings while extending his franchise record to 25 consecutive starts with three or fewer earned runs allowed. Rodón acknowledged a slow start with reduced velocity in his initial innings but noted that he loosened up as the game progressed.

The loss compounds the Yankees’ efforts to close the division gap as they enter the season’s final stretch, contending without Judge’s full availability and seeking to capitalize on remaining opportunities.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.