The New York Yankees hope to end their recent slump on Monday when they visit the Minnesota Twins. The game starts at 8:10 p.m. ET. Listen to the audio or watch the live stream HERE.
Andy Pettitte (5-6, 4.22 ERA) will take the mound on Monday for New York (42-39) and help the struggling club try to avoid their first six-game losing streak since 2007, the Associated Press reports. Pettitte starting bodes well for the Yankees: the 41-year-old pitcher has won his last 10 overall decisions while posting a 2.33 ERA against the Twins.
Despite Pettitte's streak of solid performances against Minnesota, he's going to need help on the other side of the ball. New York has just 13 runs while batting .238 during its second five-game slide of the season. Even worse, both five-game slides have come in the last three weeks.
June has been a dismal month for the club, which has gone 11-16.
"This is like life," Yankee manager Joe Girardi told reporters. "Everything is not going to be easy. You find ways to get through it. I'm not going to get frustrated. I know the effort these guys are putting in. I'm going to stick up for them."
Minnesota (36-42) will start left-hander Scott Diamond as pitcher Monday night. Diamond (5-7, 5.40) allowed five runs over four innings in his only start against the Yankees in 2011. He's had a rough month, going 2-5 with a 6.21 ERA in his seven home starts.
Monday is the first meeting this season between the two teams. Although New York has won the series against Minnesota for the last six years, the Twins are an improved team.
"They have a bunch of young players that are very athletic that can play the game and are learning how to play the game and they have some new pitchers as well," Girardi said. "It's a team that's changed a lot over the last three years."
