The Twins’ coaches viewed Saturday’s 7-6, 12-inning loss to the Yankees as the most disappointing defeat of the year. I gathered this the next morning, as they were getting ready for Sunday’s game.

It was worse than the back-to-back losses in Detroit in mid-April, when the Twins kept blowing late-inning leads. They just had so many chances to win Saturday with one meaningful hit, and missing that opportunity against the Yankees only made it worse.

Now, two nights later, the Twins are enjoying their biggest win of the year. I don’t think I’m overstating that. So many important things came together in Monday’s 6-5 victory over the Yankees.

Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer, Delmon Young, Matt Guerrier, Joe Nathan, Carlos Gomez, Alexi Casilla — all of them played important roles.

And unlike the Twins’ five-run, ninth-inning comeback in Kansas City last week, you can’t chalk up this one to a ridiculous meltdown by an opponent.

Telling words

I thought Manager Ron Gardenhire’s postgame press conference was telling. He always opens with his own game summary, and he quickly zeroed in on Young.

“Delmon had a big night for us, which is a [confidence-builder] for him,” Gardenhire said. “Hopefully he’ll carry it from there and start really driving the ball.”

Young went 3-for-4 with three run-scoring doubles. The three RBI were a season-high. He went 8-for-18 in the series after Gardenhire benched him for the final game at Kanasas City.

Young had said he was looking forward to facing some pitchers he was familiar with from the AL East. It’s worth noting that he is now batting .643 (9-for-14) in his career against Andy Pettitte.

“We need him to hit,” Gardenhire said. “We brought him over thinking he’s going to be a good hitter in our lineup. And if this is the start of him getting rolling — which, I was told he’s a slow starter and gets going — that’s great. That’s great.

“And if it takes bringing in pitchers that he knows a little better to get him going, that’s fine, too. Whatever works. Just keep putting swings on like he did tonight, and he’ll be fine.”

All the hits were to right field or right-center. The Twins would like Young to turn on more pitches, as Mauer did for his first home run. But Young seemed to go with the pitch tonight, instead of forcing balls to the right side.

Whatever. If it’s a sign of things to come, the Twins will take it. Next up, the Baltimore Orioles.

“They’re in that division, too,” Gardenhire said, smiling.

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