It's been nearly impossible to know what kind of performance Michael Pineda is going to have on any given day, his swing-and-miss stuff always imposing but his location often erratic.
There's been a semblance of greater consistency this month though, and it culminated Saturday with Pineda's best start of the season. His outing was the most encouraging aspect of the Yankees' 2-1 win over the major-league worst Twins in the Bronx, as he went six innings and surrendered just one run on two hits and a walk while striking out eight.
It was certainly more encouraging than how they ultimately won. The Yanks (37-36) — who have won three straight and are over .500 for just the second time since April 14 — received a gift in the eighth inning from Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar, who made his second error of the game by booting a potential inning-ending double-play ball off the bat of Starlin Castro, which allowed pinch-runner Aaron Hicks to score the winning run. Hicks ran for Alex Rodriguez, who began the eighth by legging out an infield single.
The only blemish on Pineda's no-decision was the home run he served up on a 3-1 count to Brian Dozier in the second inning, which put the Twins (23-51) up 1-0. Instead of a mistake leading to a downward spiral as has happened in the past, Pineda remained composed and allowed just two more baserunners.
"I do think that's a good sign," Girardi said. "You don't let that (home run) bother you. You get back to making pitches and that's what he did."
Pineda, whose slider and changeup were sharp Saturday, still ended his day with the second-worst ERA among qualified starters at 5.51, but he has a 3.00 ERA across five June starts and has at least eight strikeouts in four of those appearances. The three baserunners were the fewest he's allowed all season; his previous low for combined hits and walks was six, which he had in his last start in Minnesota and on June 7 against the Angels.
Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman all pitched scoreless innings — the seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively — for the second straight day and the third consecutive game; the Yankees were off Thursday. Chapman, who earned his 15th save, said he'd be ready to pitch Sunday, but Saturday he hit triple-digits on just the last of his 11 pitches after all but one of his 11 pitches Friday were at least 101.
Pineda wishes he could've tossed more than his 94 pitches but knows with those three relievers in the bullpen that they're going to be utilized. "I want to pitch longer in the game and try pitching longer to give a little rest to those guys because those guys are working hard," Pineda said. "(But) it feels good when you have three guys like that in the bullpen."
The Yanks tied the game in the fifth on a Carlos Beltran single, his 53rd RBI of the season. After Hicks pinch-ran for A-Rod in the eighth, Brian McCann singled to right to move Hicks to third. Mark Teixeira, playing his first MLB game in three weeks because of a cartilage tear in his right knee, struck out on a 10-pitch at-bat before Castro reached on an error for the winning RBI. Castro hit a walk-off homer on Wednesday.
Beltran, who went 2-for-4, is batting .351 this month with seven homers, 22 RBI, 13 runs and five walks and has driven in a run in 10 of 15 games since June 6.
If the Yanks can sweep the lowly Twins on Sunday, they'd be two games over .500 for the first time since they were 4-2 after a win on April 12.
"We believe in ourselves," Beltran said. "I cannot see the future. I can just tell you about what I see right now, and right now it seems like we have a good team. We just need to be consistent. I know that sounds cliche me saying 'try to be consistent,' but that's the reality right now."