Bartolo Colon was the story of the night, "a character of the game," as manager Paul Molitor described him before the game, and you have to think that at least some of the large crowd of 33,114 was here just to see the ballplayer nicknamed "Big Sexy."

But Colon, whose debut started well but had an unhappy ending, really wasn't the reason the Twins lost. That responsibility more properly belongs to Twins hitters, who were terrific in mounting threats against Yankees pitching, and pathetic about converting them.

Minnesota left 12 runners on base, but it was worse than that: The Twins left six of those runners on third base. But it was worse than that: five times that runner reached third base with less than two outs.

"We failed on every opportunity," Molitor groused. "Those are the things you need to do if you expect to win those games."

The Twins scored in the first inning when New York starter Luis Cessa walked in a run, but Eddie Rosario struck out with the bases loaded to end the threat. Max Kepler hit a one-out double in the second inning, but two ground outs stranded him. Brian Dozier knocked in Jason Castro with a triple in the fourth, but stood there watching Zack Granite and Joe Mauer ground out to end the inning.

"We're missing some pitches to take advantage of," Molitor said.

Miguel Sano's leadoff double and Kepler's single gave the Twins another great chance in the fifth, but strikeouts by Robbie Grossman and Rosario and a popup by Jorge Polanco neutered that threat. And when Dellin Betances loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth inning, the crowd was roaring, sensing a big rally. But Granite flew to center.

"It's a little different with two outs — you need a hit. A fly ball doesn't work," Molitor said. "But he's been putting together pretty good at-bats. He can handle velocity. It's just a tough order with Betances and [Aroldis] Chapman at the end."

XXX

Colon had only pitched four innings of minor-league ball since being released by Atlanta in late June. But the Dominican legend is 44 and known for durability, so manager Paul Molitor wasn't as cautious as he otherwise would be about his new starter's pitch count.

"I was prepared to give him [100 pitches] today," Molitor said. "He'll tell you that 100 is probably about where he would feel comfortable right now."

Colon hasn't thrown 100 pitches since April, though he topped 90 three times in May. He lasted 82 pitches on Tuesday, and was pulled not because of fatigue, but because the Yankees were beginning to hit him hard. It may be that his mix of sub-90 mph fastballs can fool hitters a couple of times through the order, but that third time around is going to be more difficult.

Now he'll get a chance to pitch in Dodger Stadium next Monday — and he'll get to hit, too. Colon memorably hit his first career home run last season in San Diego, at the age of 43, but he's a career .086 hitter. Looking forward to swinging the bat, Bartolo?

"As far as hitting," he said, "I don't want to think about it."