Jhony Brito’s feel-good Yankees start goes up in flames with nightmare first inning

The Yankees began play without a series defeat, a .667 winning percentage and cheers at their backs on a beautiful, warm spring night.

Less than half an hour after first pitch in The Bronx, claps had turned to boos during an inning that included three straight Twins home runs and never seemed to end.

Jhony Brito, who had been so strong in his first two career starts, was knocked out after allowing seven runs on 34 pitches during a first frame that took 28 minutes and ended with the Yankees down, 9-0.

The Twins loaded the bases without an out against Brito, scoring the first run on a sacrifice fly from Trevor Larnach, which only opened the floodgates.

Jose Miranda’s double scored two before Donovan Solano’s double scored another.

After Nick Gordon grounded out — the second and last out Brito recorded — Christian Vazquez smacked a double to center to make it 5-0.

Jhony Brito pitches for the Yankees against the Twins on April 13, 2023.USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

No. 9 hitter Michael A. Taylor slugged a 418-foot homer to center that drove in two, which spelled the end of a short night from Brito, whose ERA ballooned from 0.90 to 6.75.

Brito left, but the Twins’ bats did not.

After Taylor’s blast, Edouard Julien crushed his first career home run, against Colten Brewer, who then served up a blast to Carlos Correa.

Correa’s homer, to right-center, was the last straw for Bronx fans, who booed the Yankees as the hated former Astro rounded the bases.

Yankees pitcher Jhony Brito walks off the field after being removed during the first inning against the Twins on April 13, 2023.AP

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A game that started at 7:08 p.m. did not conclude the top of the first until 7:36, when Larnach flew out and sarcastic cheers followed the Yankees to their dugout.

Taylor hit another home run in the third, a two-run shot, to put the Twins up 11-0.