Kyle Gibson (0-3, 6.10 ERA) comes off the DL for his first start* former starter Phil Hughes comes out of the pen, looking for his first win in over a month (0-5, 6.43 ERA in that span w/ a 0-3, 7.43 ERA in May) to face Matt Moore (2-3, 5.31 ERA).
After averaging 6 runs per game in Seattle, the Twins offense reverted to a more anemic 2.33 runs per game in Oakland. This limited run production will likely continue as their RBI & HR leader, Miguel Sano, has been placed on the DL with a hamstring injury. That being said, Nunez & Mauer (AL Player of the Week for June 29!) the two Twins with higher BA's, OBP's and OPS's are still available. And, in a dozen games with the Twins, left fielder Robbie "Not Rex" Grossman is slashing .359/.457/.667 with 9 RBI's and 8 extra-base hits ... So they got that going for 'em.
The Twins play only 3 road games in their next 20. With visits from Tampa, New York and Philadelphia (all currently owners of sub-.500 records) combined with the Twins record of 4-6 in their past 10, it could be argued that there will be wins at Target Field in the next three weeks. Furthermore, at 15-37, I can assure you that good seats will be available for cheap (though I'd wager the "good seats" will be filled with BoSox and Yankme fans when those teams are here).
*Gibson scratched due to a sore back.
Phil Hughes pitches a shut out tonight.
INSIDE THE PARK!
I mean, it really should be an error of the RF for having the ball clang off his glove
but
errors are not called anymore.
Joe never did that when HE lead off.
A very specific prediction there. Easy to check though!
I'd like to see Joe cap off a second month in a row like that
Yeah! I'm gonna leave it as is.
Wow - Dazzle praising Gibson for not hiding his injury from the Twins' staff. Bite me, Torii
That'll do Max, that'll do.
Kepler, Buxton RBIs
that'll do!
Give. Back. Runs.
That didnt take long.
Does Phil Hughes get placed on the DL before the game is done?
BULLDOZED
wall scraper
but still a HR!
Twins All Star Robbie Grossman.
Wheels Suzuki.
Fundamentals?! How about that...
TWINS BASEBALL!!
Came here to post this.
Mauer goes back into a tie for the AL league in IBBs (6)
Good to see Park getting some solid contact.
Also good to see Kepler get some solid contact.
Remember gents, you've got Jepsen closing this game. Insurance runs are a good thing.
Nice job selling the "H"BP by Souza Jr.
Joe Mauer(1750) just passed Kent Hrbek(1749) on the all time Twins career hit list . Next up, Tony O (1917)
Cool!
2 out base hit off Jepsen
*drink*
*dies of alcohol poisoning*
14 consecutive games with at least one hit allowed.
His 2-out BAA has got to be head-and-shoulders above his other splits
*etches "Two-out Jepsen" onto base of player statue*
With a minimum of 30 ABs (Jepsen has 34), he leads the league this year in that split. Pineda is second at .452.
1.529 OPS with two outs, no one on. .807 OPS with one out, no one on. .733 OPS with no outs and no one on.
Scoreless ninth! And finished with the lead!
I didnt notice until now but every Twins player had a hit tonight. Cool!
Kepler full of "sir" in his post - game interview replies. I like him
But what does that mean auf Deutsch, eh? Probably nicht so flattering, ya?
9.
"very"
... so, "
sehrsir gut"Any German would understand that, yes.
ya