The Twins pulled off the unthinkable on Sunday, beating the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium with six home runs and a pitching performance that was nearly perfect, including eight strikeouts, from starter Tyler Duffey.
But that kind of loss apparently doesn’t sit well with the New York media, which are no doubt accustomed to a team that wins big and brings home championships — not one hovering around .500.
As if to goad the Yankees, the New York tabloids seemed to go out of the way to paint the Twins in the worst possible terms. In other words, how could the Yankees lose to THIS team?
Some examples:
-New York Daily News headline: “Yankees give up six homers to major-league worst Twins in 7-1 loss.”
-From the same story: “(Tyler) Duffey had been one of the worst pitchers in the majors this year, but made the Yankees look completely inept.” Former Twin Aaron Hicks, who broke up the perfect game bid with a double in the sixth, also saved “the Yankees from utter embarrassment.”
-From the no respect file: Yankees manager Joe Girardi, as quoted by the Daily News: “You win five out of seven against Minnesota, you can live with that.”
-From a Daily News columnist: He refers to the team from Minnesota as the “terrible Twins,” and that the Yankees “played the perfect opponent” when they won 2-1 on Saturday.
-New York Post headline: “Yanks have no answer for pitcher everyone’s had answers for.”
-Another Post story: “Say hello to the Rangers, the club with the best record in the AL as the Twins, easily the worst team in baseball (really?), departed the Bronx” with a 7-1 victory.
Sheesh, guys, the Twins are admittedly struggling, but worst in baseball? The Twins are 24-51, the Atlanta Braves, 26-50, and the Cincinnati Reds, 29-48. It would appear “worst” is still up for grabs.
Twins' streak continues: Six straight series without getting swept.
— Patrick Reusse (@1500ESPN_Reusse) June 27, 2016
Franchise record for HRs in a game is 8, set back in 1963. This is 11th time Twins have had six or more, but just 6th time since 1966.
— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) June 26, 2016