Spencer Jones, Cody Bellinger Power Yankees Past Twins After Playoff Clinch

Spencer Jones launched a three-run homer and Cody Bellinger drove the New York Yankees to an 8-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night, giving New York another emphatic victory less than 24 hours after securing its place in the 2026 postseason.

The Yankees improved to 88-63 with their third consecutive win and seventh in eight games. Bellinger finished with three hits, including a two-run homer, while Jones delivered the decisive blow with a 423-foot shot during a four-run sixth inning at Target Field.

Jones breaks the game open in the sixth

New York took control early when Bellinger homered for a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but Minnesota stayed within striking distance until the sixth. The Yankees then turned a close game into a rout.

Jones came to the plate during the four-run rally and drove a three-run homer to center, providing the biggest swing of the night. The rookie outfielder has increasingly become part of New York’s late-season equation, and his power arrived at a moment when the Yankees are beginning to shape their October roster.

Heliot Ramos, George Lombard Jr. and Anthony Volpe each added two hits as New York produced a balanced offensive performance even with Aaron Judge out of the starting lineup. Manager Aaron Boone has been managing Judge’s workload after the slugger returned on September 8 from a right rib stress fracture that kept him out for more than three months.

Max Fried keeps Minnesota quiet

The Yankees did not need all eight runs behind Max Fried. The left-hander worked seven innings and allowed only one run on six hits, striking out six without issuing a walk.

Minnesota’s lone run came on an RBI double by Emmanuel Rodriguez. Bailey Ober kept the Twins relatively close into the sixth but was charged with three runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings. New York’s bullpen finished the final two innings without allowing a run.

Yankees keep pressure on Tampa Bay after clinching

The victory came one night after New York officially secured a postseason berth with an 8-3 win over Minnesota. That clincher featured a six-run eighth inning and Aaron Judge’s first home run since returning from the injured list.

Reaching October, however, does not end the Yankees’ regular-season race. New York entered the series still chasing the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League East lead, with the division carrying a potential first-round bye and a more favorable postseason path.

The Yankees have now reached the postseason for a third consecutive season and for the eighth time in Aaron Boone’s nine seasons as manager. Their immediate focus shifts from simply qualifying to arriving in October at full strength and with momentum.

Jones’ emergence adds another variable to that equation. His three-run homer Tuesday did more than secure a comfortable win: it reinforced the case that the rookie can provide impact at-bats when New York’s games become considerably more important later this month.