Watch: Twins rock Chapman with 4 runs for stunning comeback win
The Minnesota Twins needed just nine pitches to solve Aroldis Chapman.
The normally dominant New York Yankees closer blew a two-run lead in astonishing fashion at Target Field. Chapman failed to record an out, giving up a game-tying two-run blast to Josh Donaldson and then a two-run walk-off homer to Nelson Cruz, handing the Twins a stunning 7-5 victory.
Josh Donaldson tied it. Nelson Cruz ended it.
— MLB (@MLB) June 11, 2021
Wow. pic.twitter.com/3qVI0RDvOn
Thursday's outing was just the third time in Chapman's career that he allowed multiple home runs in a game, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.
Additionally, Donaldson's 438-foot home run and Cruz's 457-foot game-winner are the two longest homers allowed by Chapman since StatCast debuted in 2015, according to Matt Kelly of MLB.com.
Aroldis Chapman had never given up more than three hard-hit balls in any appearance (since 2015).
— Jason Catania (@JayCat11) June 11, 2021
Then the Twins did this vs. him tonight in the 9th ...
Jorge Polanco: 109.9 mph single
Josh Donaldson: 110.3 mph HR
Willians Astudillo: 99.5 mph single
Nelson Cruz: 112.4 mph HR
"He's the best closer in the game, so it was remarkable to be able to score four runs against him," Cruz said postgame, according to Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com.
Chapman has enjoyed a remarkable 2021 season. He entered the game having allowed just a single earned run and one homer in 23 innings. The Twins' four-run outburst spiked his ERA from 0.39 to 1.96.
"I felt normal tonight," Chapman said, according to Newsday's Erik Boland. "Nothing different. Just a bad night tonight."
For the last-place Twins, the comeback was just their fourth win in their last 10 contests. New York, meanwhile, now sits six games back of first place in the AL East.
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