MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins had a lead on the New York Yankees that had dwindled to one run on this late July night, and rookie Lewis Thorpe was in a daunting situation with one out in the sixth inning.
After giving up hits to three of the first four batters he faced, the Twins left-hander had runners at first and second behind him. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge towered in front of him at the plate. Pitching coach Wes Johnson jogged to the mound to deliver a simple message.
“He said, ‘Have some fun,’” Thorpe said, “and I smiled and threw a first-pitch slider.