The New York Yankees handed the Minnesota Twins an 8-3 defeat at Target Field on Monday, September 14, 2026, powered by home runs from Aaron Judge, José Caballero, and Austin Wells. A bullpen collapse in the late innings turned what had been a competitive game into a five-run defeat, with starter Dean Kremer keeping the Twins in it deep into the middle frames before the 'pen surrendered six runs over the final three-plus innings. Josh Bell and Emmanuel Rodriguez provided the offensive bright spots for Minnesota, but it wasn't close to enough against a Yankees lineup that punished every mistake.
Dean Kremer Gives the Twins a Chance, Bullpen Doesn't Hold
Kremer was solid through the middle innings. The right-hander worked 5.2 innings, allowing just two hits, one earned run, one walk, and striking out five. For most of the night, he gave Minnesota exactly what it needed. The problem was what came after him.
Kody Funderburk and Jeff Hoffman each handled their brief appearances cleanly — Funderburk with a scoreless 0.1 innings and Hoffman with a strikeout in a clean inning of work. Then the wheels came off. Andrew Morris allowed three hits and three earned runs in just one-third of an inning, taking the loss. A.J. Minter was even worse, recording zero outs while surrendering three hits and three earned runs. Tommy Nance came on to stop the bleeding, going 1.2 innings with two strikeouts, but the damage was done. The Yankees had turned a close game into a comfortable five-run margin.
Judge, Caballero, and Wells Power New York's Offense
On the other side, Yankees starter Will Warren was excellent. He threw 5.2 innings, struck out six Twins hitters, allowed five hits and two walks, and gave up zero earned runs. Warren set the tone, though the Yankees did have to overcome an early deficit — the source of the comeback flag on this game — before pulling away for good.
The Yankees' power was the story. Aaron Judge went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, doing the damage that made the difference. José Caballero had a standout night — 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Austin Wells added a solo shot of his own, going 1-for-4 with one RBI. Ben Rice chipped in with two hits and two RBI in three at-bats. Tim Hill earned the win after allowing one earned run over one inning, and John Schreiber closed it out with 1.1 scoreless innings to pick up the save.
Bell and Rodriguez Provide Flashes for Minnesota
The Twins generated some production offensively, even against a Yankees staff that allowed zero earned runs through the first 5.2 innings. Bell went 2-for-4 with a home run and one RBI — his solo shot provided a moment of life at Target Field. Emmanuel Rodriguez matched Bell's hit total, also going 2-for-4 and driving in two runs. Those were the most productive bats in the Twins lineup, but Minnesota couldn't string enough together against Warren early and couldn't manufacture any real rally momentum against the New York bullpen late.
Turning Point: The Eighth-Inning Unraveling
The game's decisive sequence came when Morris and Minter combined to allow six earned runs and six hits in fewer than two-thirds of an inning — Morris surrendering three earned runs and three hits in 0.1 innings, Minter adding three earned runs and three hits without recording an out — collapsing what had been a manageable deficit. At that point, any path back for Minnesota essentially closed. The Yankees turned a manageable deficit into a five-run margin that was never in serious danger. Kremer's solid start deserved a better outcome, and the competitive baseball that preceded the collapse made the final line feel harsher than the game's flow suggested for most of the night.
What's Next for the Twins
- Minnesota drops this game to the Yankees in the 2026 regular season.
- The Twins will look to regroup and respond in their next scheduled contest.
- Starting pitching held its end — the bullpen's performance will be the primary focus heading into the next series.
- Bell and Rodriguez demonstrated offensive production worth building on in the lineup.
