Twins Power Past Yankees 8-4 in Spring Training Showdown

On March 6, 2025, the Minnesota Twins flexed their offensive muscle to secure an 8-4 victory over the New York Yankees in a spring training clash at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. The Twins’ barrage of four home runs overwhelmed a Yankees pitching staff featuring ace Gerrit Cole, turning an early deficit into a convincing win in the Grapefruit League contest.

The game started with the Yankees striking first against Twins starter Louie Varland. In the bottom of the first, Varland surrendered a two-run homer to JC Escarra, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs on the day, giving New York an initial 2-0 lead. Escarra’s early blast set the tone for his standout performance, though it would ultimately be overshadowed by Minnesota’s power surge.

The Twins responded emphatically in the second inning against Cole, who was making his second start of the spring following a Cy Young-winning 2023 season. Matt Wallner ignited the comeback with a three-run homer, plating two runners and flipping the score to 3-2 in Minnesota’s favor. Wallner’s blast came with two outs, showcasing the Twins’ ability to capitalize on late-inning opportunities.

Minnesota’s onslaught continued in the third, as Brooks Lee launched a solo home run off Cole, pushing the lead to 4-2. The Twins weren’t done yet—in the fourth, Elliot Ford added another solo shot, this time off reliever Luke Weaver, making it 5-2. The fifth inning saw Michael Gasper join the homer parade with a two-run shot off Fernando Cruz, extending Minnesota’s advantage to 7-2. Gasper’s homer punctuated a four-run outburst over two frames against Yankees relievers, putting the game firmly in the Twins’ grasp.
Cole, who pitched three innings, struggled uncharacteristically, allowing three home runs and four runs on five hits while striking out four and walking one. His spring ERA ballooned after the outing, a rare off-day for the veteran right-hander as he works back into form. The Yankees’ bullpen couldn’t stem the tide either, with Weaver and Cruz each surrendering a homer in relief.

New York mounted a late rally attempt in the seventh against Twins reliever Scott Blewett. Escarra drove in another run with a single, and an additional tally came home, cutting the deficit to 7-4. However, Minnesota answered in the eighth with an insurance run, as DaShawn Keirsey Jr. scored on a single from Lee, restoring the four-run cushion at 8-4.

Twins pitching settled down after Varland’s rocky start. Varland lasted three innings, giving up two runs on three hits with three strikeouts and a walk. The bullpen, including Blewett and others, held the Yankees to two runs over the final six frames, with Blewett allowing the seventh-inning runs but escaping further damage.

The Twins’ offensive stars—Wallner (3 RBIs), Gasper (2 RBIs), Lee (2 RBIs), and Ford (2 RBIs)—powered the team to victory with their long-ball heroics. For the Yankees, Escarra’s three RBIs and Elijah Dunham’s 2-for-2 day with a run scored were bright spots in a losing effort. New York’s high-profile lineup, including Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger, went hitless in limited action, combining for an 0-for-5 performance with a walk.
​
This March 6, 2025, matchup highlighted Minnesota’s power potential and handed the Yankees an early spring setback. While the result carries little weight beyond player evaluation, the Twins’ eight-run, four-homer outburst provided a glimpse of their offensive ceiling, while the Yankees will look to sharpen their pitching as the preseason progresses.