Yankees’ Aroldis Chapman blows save vs. Twins, sweep lost | Rapid reaction

MINNEAPOLIS — Put the brooms back.

Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman blew it in the ninth, giving up two homers to cough up a two-run lead in a 7-5 loss to the Twins at Target Field on Thursday night.

Nelson Cruz’s two-run shot to center field ended it. It set off a wild celebration for the fans who stuck around despite the Yankees appearing to cruise to another win.

Josh Donaldson’s two-run homer was what tied the game at 5-all. It was a towering blast to the left-center field second deck on a 1-0 fastball and it brought in Jorge Polanco, who had led off with a single. Chapman didn’t record a single out. Willians Astudillo singled following Donaldson’s homer.

Chapman had allowed just one earned run in his previous 23 innings pitched this season. It was the Yankees’ first loss this season when they were leading after eight innings.

It blew a strong night from the offense and the rest of the bullpen, which held up a so-so starting performance. It snapped the Yankees’ two-game winning streak.

They’re off Friday before starting a two-game set in Philadelphia on Saturday.

For the Yankees, it was their third straight night with double-digit hits, as they collected 12 and Gleyber Torres had three of them. Aroldis Chapman nailed the save, his 13th of the season and first in eight days. Chad Green, Wandy Peralta (1 run), Jonathan Loaisiga and Lucas Luetge kept the Twins at bay from the bullpen.

The Yankees started the day in third place in the American League East, 5 1/2 games back of the first-place Rays.

The start of the series came after the Yankees’ lowest point of the season, a three-game sweep by Boston in the Bronx that had Boone facing questions about whether changes needed to be made to his roster.

Starting pitcher Mike King gave up two earned runs on four hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. He thew 69 pitches as he continues to try to take hold of the rotation spot vacated thanks to Corey Kluber’s shoulder injury.

Stanton’s three-run home run in the first inning was his third in two games. It went to center field, hitting the top of the ivy, and was his 12th of the season. The blast brought home Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres, who had hit consecutive one-out singles. Urshela would also triple in the next at-bat, but he was thrown out at home following a wild pitch in the next at-bat. Urshela was initially ruled safe, but a replay challenge revealed that Happ was able to tag him with the baseball in his non-glove hand.

King gave a run back in the first when Nelson Cruz’s fly ball to left field was deep enough to bring in Josh Donaldson from third base.

Urshela’s solo shot to lead off the the fourth made it 4-1 Yankees until King surrendered a one-out, RBI double to No. 8 hitter Andrelton Simmons in the bottom half of the frame.

Back-to-back singles to lad off the sixth set up DJ LeMahieu’s run-scoring grounder up the middle for a 5-2 Yankees advantage.

Minnesota got back another run on Cruz’s RBI double in the seventh.

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Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.