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          New York Yankees

          Rapid Reaction: Yankees 8, Twins 4

          • Andrew Marchand, ESPN Senior WriterAug 19, 2015, 02:41 AM
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              Andrew Marchand is a senior writer for ESPNNewYork. He also regularly contributes to SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, ESPNews, ESPN New York 98.7 FM and ESPN Radio. He joined ESPN in 2007 after nine years at the New York Post. Follow Andrew on Twitter »
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          NEW YORK -- Another magic moment for Alex Rodriguez in his return season as he hit a go-ahead, seventh inning grand slam to give the New York Yankees a one-run lead in what turned into an 8-4 win.

          With the Toronto Blue Jays winning, the Yankees remained a game in front in the American League East.

          A-Rod: Rodriguez entered his bases-loaded at-bat against J.R. Graham having not hit a home run since July 27, which was his 40th birthday. He also had just one hit in his past 27 at-bats.

          With the crowd behind him, chanting "Let's go, A-Rod," Rodriguez delivered, smashing a no-doubt-about-it home run into the Yankees' bullpen in right field. Rodriguez, who has more grand slams (25) than anyone in baseball history, just watched it as the crowd erupted. The crowd then gave him a curtain call, another moment that was hard to imagine a year ago.

          Rodriguez now has 25 homers and 67 RBIs on the season.

          Sano job: Minnesota's Miguel Sano is a very talented, young hitter. He showed it again in the seventh, unlocking a tie game with a two-run homer just over the left-field wall.

          7th, not heaven: CC Sabathia had not pitched into the seventh since June 29, which was six starts ago. After giving up the Sano shot, Sabathia allowed two more hits and had to leave with two outs in the seventh.

          Sabathia -- who has been in the news for his altercation in Toronto -- actually left to a nice ovation, which was deserved.

          Nick Rumbelow allowed an RBI single from Shane Robinson that made Sabathia's final line look a little worse than he actually pitched. He went 6⅔ innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on five hits. He struck out five and walked three.

          Fast start: Sabathia came out throwing heat, hitting 94 on the speed gun and not allowing a hit until the fifth. The hit, which came with two outs in the fifth, was off the bat of Eduardo Escobar. It was a bloop single to right and put runners on first and third for Kurt Suzuki, who nailed an RBI double into the corner.

          The inning ended, though, as third-base coach Gene Glynn misguidedly sent Escobar. Didi Gregorius threw him out at the plate by a mile.

          Birdman: Greg Bird picked up his first career RBI, singling to right for the game's first run. Bird's hit scored Carlos Beltran, who had doubled off Twins starter Mike Pelfrey.

          Bird continues to show a real professional approach at the plate. He added a single in the eighth and scored.

          On deck: The Yankees look to complete the sweep with a 1:05 p.m. ET start on Wednesday. It's Nathan Eovaldi (12-2, 4.26) versus Ervin Santana (2-3, 5.66).