The Minnesota Twins started a Thursday night game against the New York Yankees with back-to-back-to-back home runs for the first time in franchise history.
First baseman Luis Arraez started off the mini home run derby with his second homer of the season and his first in two months. Center fielder Byron Buxton and shortstop Carlos Correa then hit home runs on two of the next three pitches thrown.
Even more impressive is that the trio of home runs were all hit off four-time All-Star and 2021 Cy Young runner-up Gerrit Cole. The Yankees ace entered Thursday with a 5-1 record this season and a 2.78 ERA. He had allowed three home runs in his previous nine outings.
No pitcher in Yankees history had allowed three straight home runs to start a game before Thursday.
After walking the next batter, Cole stopped the bleeding by striking out three straight Twins. But Buxton got back to work in the second inning with a three-run home run.
