VIDEO: Nelson Cruz Cranks a Solo Shot to the Short Porch at Yankee Stadium to Extend Twins' Lead

The Minnesota Twins lived and died by the long ball throughout the 2019 regular season, and it appears that will also be their club motto in the playoffs as well. Shortstop Jorge Polanco got the best of a James Paxton fastball in the first inning to give the Twins an early lead with a solo shot. Fast forward to the top half of the third frame, and slugger Nelson Cruz matched the earlier efforts of his teammate, drilling a solo home run just over the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium.

Another fastball right down broadway. Paxton has pitched well thus far but the Twins are wasting no time taking advantage of his occasional mistakes.

This certainly wasn't the mammoth big fly that we've grown accustomed to witnessing from Cruz throughout his career, but it counts just the same, and now Minny holds a 2-0 lead over the Big Maple and the Yanks in the Big Apple.