Twins lose 9-2 to Yankees as Jose Miranda shows off recovery from injury

TAMPA, FLA. – Jose Miranda lined an RBI double down the right field line in the third inning and barreled into second base with a head-first slide.

After an offseason shoulder procedure to repair Miranda’s rotator cuff, the Twins are limiting him to designated hitter duties for the first couple of weeks of spring training games. In a 9-2 loss to the New York Yankees at George Steinbrenner Field on Monday, Miranda is still determined to make an impact.

Miranda had two hits off Yankees lefthander Nestor Cortes and scored a run when Jair Camargo hit a ground ball that took a high hop and deflected off DJ LeMahieu’s face at third base. The Twins totaled seven hits and two runs in 2⅔ innings against Cortes, but were shut out for the rest of the afternoon.

“When he’s using the whole field and shooting line drives all over the place, that’s normally when you’re going to see him being successful,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “That’s what he is doing right now.”

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BOXSCORE: N.Y. Yankees 9, Twins 2

Simeon Woods Richardson, the 23-year-old righty, pitched a clean first inning for the Twins, but the Yankees scored at least two runs on four Twins relievers. Woods Richardson struck out Juan Soto in a seven-pitch at-bat, freezing the slugger with a changeup.

“He was a highlight for us today,” said Baldelli, noting Woods Richardson’s fastball sat in the 92-94 mph range. “His stuff has been in a really nice spot this spring.”

Twins lefty Steven Okert pitched a scoreless inning, but nonroster invitees Matt Bowman and Ryan Jensen were both tagged for three hits and two runs in their relief appearances.