Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman combined for three innings of perfect relief for the second straight game, Rob Refsnyder hit a tiebreaking single and the New York Yankees took advantage of three errors to rally past the Minnesota Twins 5-3 Friday night.
Masahiro Tanaka (5-2) beat the Twins for the second time in seven days, allowing three runs and seven hits in six innings.
New York's "No Runs DMC" relief trio improved to 11-0 when all appearing together, with Chapman striking out three batters on 11 strikes - for his 14th save in 15 chances. His first 10 pitches were all 100 mph or more on the scoreboard before freezing Kurt Suzuki with a changeup for a called third strike.
None of the three relievers have allowed a ball out of the infield in their last two outings.
After New York scored three unearned runs, former-Twin Aaron Hicks hit his first right-handed home run this year, an eighth-inning drive off Buddy Boshers.
New York beat the Twins for the fourth time in five meetings this season and won for just the 10th time in 24 games when opponents started a left-hander. The Yankees (35-35) got back to .500, while the Twins dropped to a big league-worst 23-50.
Making his first big league start since April 25, Tommy Milone (0-2) allowed four runs - three earned - six hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings. He also made a big mental mistake, forgetting to cover first on Hicks' fourth-inning grounder that went off first baseman Joe Mauer's glove for an error that loaded the bases. Milone had been 4-0 with a 1.66 ERA in four Triple-A starts.
Local
Former Yankee Eduardo Nunez hit a two-run single in the third for a 2-0 lead and No. 8 hitter Kurt Suzuki had an RBI double in the fourth that put the Twins ahead 3-2.
But Milone struggled at times against a Yankees batting order that had just two left-handed hitters. After shortstop Eduardo Escobar allowed Austin Romine's leadoff grounder in the third to kick off his glove for an error, Carlos Beltran hit a two-out RBI double and scored on Alex Rodriguez's single.
Chase Headley walked leading off the fourth, Didi Gregorius reached on a bunt single to third and Mauer's error loaded the bases. Romine's sacrifice fly tied it and Refsnyder's hit put New York ahead. Neil Ramirez relieved with the bases loaded and struck out Rodriguez.
TRADE TALK
With the Yankees 3 1/2 games back of a wild-card berth at the start of the night, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said, "We are definitely not sellers righty now." He said whether than could change ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline "depends how far out we are with the playoffs."
THE MICK
David and Danny Mantle, sons of the Hall of Famer, threw out ceremonial first pitches on Mickey Mantle bobblehead night - which marks the 60th anniversary of his Triple Crown season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: 3B Trevor Plouffe was sidelined after straining his right groin Thursday and hopes to avoid the DL. "He's better than I thought he was going to be today," manager Paul Molitor said. ... 3B Miguel Sano, who hasn't played since May 31 because of a strained left hamstring, was 0 for 1 with a walk in five innings at third base for Triple-A Rochester.
Yankees: 1B Mark Teixeira, who hasn't appeared for the Yankees since June 2 because of torn right knee cartilage, is expected to be activated Saturday and start. He went 1 for 9 during three minor league injury rehabilitation games, then was given Friday off. "You have to watch his at-bats carefully. You have to watch how he's moving, and make decisions from there," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. ... LHP CC Sabathia, who rolled his right ankle twice during Wednesday's start against Colorado, should be able to pitch through the injury, according to Girardi. "There's really no swelling," Girardi said. "We just might have to tape it."
UP NEXT
RHP Ervin Santana (2-7) starts Saturday for Minnesota and RHP Michael Pineda (3-7) for New York. Santana beat the Yankees on June 19, allowing three runs - two earned - in 7 1/3 innings. Pineda didn't get a decision at Minnesota on June 18.
