Yankees beat up Twins in series opener

Gary Sánchez and Miguel Andújar homered, DJ LeMahieu had two hits and an RBI, and the New York Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins 8-4 Tuesday night to end a four-game skid.

Aaron Judge drove in two runs for New York, which had lost eight of its previous 10 and won despite going 2 for 15 with runners in scoring position and stranding 11.

Jonathan Loaisiga (5-2) pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings in relief of Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery.

Taylor Rogers (2-3) allowed two runs on three hits in the eighth for Minnesota.

The 95-degree temperature at first pitch was the second-hottest for a game at Target Field, only eclipsed by a 97-degree start on July 16, 2012.

New York took advantage of several Minnesota mistakes.

Tyler Wade scored the go-ahead run on LeMahieu’s fielder’s choice in the eighth as second baseman Jorge Polanco’s throw was wide of the plate for an error. The Twins committed four errors in the game.

Judge was walked with the bases loaded in the fifth and another run scored on a wild pitch. Judge earned another RBI as he beat a throw on an attempted double play and an error was charged to shortstop Andrelton Simmons after a review showed he didn’t touch the base on the turn.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: LHP Zack Britton (left elbow bone spur) had his rehab assignment transferred from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and allowed four runs while getting one out Tuesday. He was slated to pitch there again Thursday. … OF Ryan LaMarre (right hamstring strain) commenced a rehab assignment at Triple-A on Tuesday. … Boone said 1B Luke Voit (right oblique strain) is increasing his workload swing-wise and could potentially start a rehab assignment in a week.

Twins: OF Byron Buxton (right hip strain) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul. Buxton was the designated hitter and will play in the outfield on Wednesday. Manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton could play at least three rehab games, with two in the outfield. … RHP Kenta Maeda (adductor strain, general arm soreness) is scheduled for a rehab start at Triple-A on Wednesday and is expected to throw about 50 to 55 pitches. … DH Nelson Cruz missed his second straight game with left knee stiffness. … OF Rob Refsnyder was reinstated from the seven-day injured list before the game after recovering from a concussion. He left in the sixth with left hamstring tightness after an RBI double.

UP NEXT

Gerrit Cole (6-3, 2.26 ERA) starts Wednesday for New York in his first outing since Twins 3B Josh Donaldson wondered whether the Yankees right-hander might have been trying to hide his usage of illegal foreign substances to doctor the baseball. RHP Randy Dobnak (1-5, 6.19) starts for Minnesota.