With thirty games left to go, the Twins one game out of the second playoff spot, chasing Texas. If they were to succeed and otherwise things stand, the Twins would be in a one-game playoff with, naturally, the New York Yankees.
Kyle Gibson faces Jeff Samardzija, who's had his own good news-bad news Kyle Gibson sort of year.
Miguel Sano doesn't appear to be in the starting lineup, which bums me out because our DirecTV is still down at work and I haven't gotten to see as much of this team as I'd like. Win one for me, Twins.
If you can't see it at work, you can do like I do at times, which is avoid seeing the score and then watch the game from the beginning on MLB.tv once I have time. If that's not an option, you can always watch the condensed game on mlb.com a few hours after the game. Anyone can do that. No blackouts and no fees.
This is the MLB.tv free game of the day.
What was the injury delay?
Sorry, missed the first inning.
Given 2003 and 2004, I give the Twins a much higher chance of beating the Yanquis in a one-game playoff, even in NYC, than in a five-game series with HFA.
One game to exorcise the demons!
(They will lose that game, though.)
The Twins would have won in 2003 and 2004 if it had been a one-game series in New York.
Yeah, plus, Santana won both of those, and 2003-2004 Johan is not walking through that door.
(They were both Santana, right?)
He started the first one but started cramping up (legs I think). Rick Reed came in relief in the 4th or 5th inning and got it to the regular setup guys.
SLAMMED
Ed-die! Ed-die!
I think you mean rOsariO
damn, I wish I'd had Hawk's feed for that one
Hawk didn't say anything until he complained that the ump's strikezone was so small it made Samardzija pitch it right down the middle.
You never disappoint me, Hawk.
I was about to type the words "It's kind of unfortunate that the Twins aren't capitalizing on Samardzija's awful start."
That's sweet that it was Rosario getting the slam after he left the bases loaded in the first inning.
Mmhm. Baseball is poetry sometimes.
Eddie with a bomb. so awesome.
Now we need that shutdown inning.
I like salami.
Hawk just proclaimed Hunter a 'Hall of Famer', and then went on to say he is the reason why outfielders jump against fences and rob home runs.
Given his tireless self-promotion, I wouldn't be surprised if he makes it.
Kirby did it just as much if not more than Hunter. TK always preferred his outfielders to play deep, so it gave his centerfielders lots of opportunities to do it.
Well, crap.
Wow. What is that frat boy posturing he's doing? Eh, whatever makes him happy.
explain?
After the triple, he was doing these homeboy "What's up now?" gestures to the Sox dugout. It went on a little longer than one would expect.
Pretty easy to despise the Pale Hose.
I see that (they get those replay videos up QUICK). Stupid.
That's not Fien. Not Fien at all.
Flashes of Cuddyer's arm, right there.
Well, poop.
What happened? Gameday is being slow here...
A little of everything, to be honest.
Yikes, Vargas. Flashes of Cuddyer striking out, there.
Boyer & Duensing? Is Molly punting on this one?
I was away so I'm curious how the Twins let Shark get as deep into the game as he did. He was damn near 70 pitches in the 4th, and was only hitting 100 in the 7th... ugh. Take a pitch!
Definite B Team vibe today.
And then he starts pinch hitting. Whether it works or not, I'm happy to see these types of moves.
It's a bummer that Sano popped out there, but it's nice that it will be the top of the order batting in the 9th.
As long as they can get out of hte top of the inning without any more damage.
We're playing Houston next, so I would hope he's keeping bullets in his holster.
Terrible loss today. Terrible.