Onelki García against Kyle Gibson
We're headed into the home stretch now. We've all talked about managing expectations this season, but with this soft schedule and the flawed teams in the race, I will be very disappointed if the Twins don't come away with the chance to play the play-in game.
It all starts, as always, with beating teams that you should be able to beat, and the Royals are the epitome of that right now. If you don't recognize the starter for the blue folks tonight, it's because this will be his first start in the big leagues. Good for him. He's still a low-K pitcher who hasn't really stick as a starter, even in the minors. If the Twins can't beat pitchers like Onelki García, then they really don't have much business in the playoffs.
Luckily the Twins are sending out..... Gibson?
Man, why do I always get the Gibson starts.
On the upside, Buxton is in the starting lineup.
On the downside, I'm in the Royals blackout area so no Twins feed, I have to listen to Rex Hudler.
Gibson : nibbish
Pelfrey : cheaptoy
That was a nice first inning for Gibson. It's amazing what not getting cute with two strikes can do for a guy.
damn Gibby for creating a slight big of optimism for his pitching
and JOE! Add one more double to his tally
Moar doubles!
Welcome to the majors, rookie
Been nice knowin ya.
(this all feels very familiar somehow)
yeah, God knows we've seen it more than once
But not his first appearance. The first five batters he faced came around to score. Poor bastard.
Nothing personal, but there's nothing in his minor league record that shows he has any business being in the major leagues. He hasn't had a good year in the minors since 2013 in AA for the Dodgers. As Twins fans, we've seen plenty of guys like that over the years, though.
okay, this was the informed opinion I was looking for
I feel bad about the guy. He was set up to fail and he did. That said, he gave up fewer runs than the next guy. A tiny bit bad.
I know Joe does his best damage to opposite field, but it's so aesthetically pleasing when he pulls one.
Good sign that Buxton's hand is okay!
I think Buxton wanted an inside the parker.
https://twitter.com/statcast/status/904160337578139649
Yay! Things are so much more fun with Buxton in the lineup.
Everybody hits!
all the gaps belong to the Twins.
*Escobar excluded
There are still folks not settled in their seats and there is a pitching change. nice!
Well, if they lose this game, it certainly won't be because they didn't jump all over poor Onelki García.
I almost, almost feel bad for that dude.
man, who are these guys?
No, seriously.
holy bejeebus
First thought: He didn't get cheated.
Second thought: Man, that ballpark is ugly.
It makes me long for the near-brutalism of the dome.
In all honesty, I loved the Dome. What it lacked in beauty it made up for in personality. Maybe the fans in Miami feel the same way.
What it lacked in sight lines it made up for in driving 4-5 hours and still watching a ballgame be played
That feature doesn't excuse Miller Park, though.
No doubt. I have some very good memories from the dome.
The booth defending Joe Mauer's days off?!?!?!?!?! Mass hysteria, cats and dogs living together.
Dick's gettin soft in his old age.
I'm trying to pick the joke, but with so many available options I'll just walk away.
Let's keep scoring, boys!
something something joe mauer something something baseball.
not a double *sad face*
.300!! please tell me there are no rain clouds in the area
If the game keeps going this way, there eventually will be.
Wheels!
These are the Royals we know and love!
Seriously, I kind of feel sorry for their fans. We've seen plenty of ballplaying like this in recent years, and it's not much fun to watch.
2015 is less than two years ago, I'm not that sorry for them yet
Keep it going, boys. Keep it going.
Man, I hope we keep some in the tank after this game
This pitcher is not fooling anyone.
This new pitcher is trying to show that rookie how things are really done.
To be fair, dude really nailed the chair placement.
Elizabethton's playoff game scheduled for tonight has been rained out. Looks like the schedule simply gets pushed back a day, and that the first game of the series will be tomorrow.
Fort Myers leads Jupiter 3-1 after seven innings. A win clinches the division for the Miracle.
Rochester and Pawtucket are tied 3-3 after six. Lehigh Valley was rained out, but a Red Wings win clinches a tie for the wild card.
I hope the big club's night is contagious
Gibson had a look on his face like "guys, I got enough. Let me back out there."
And watch him reel off zeroes. Guys, save some of it
Dang. I really wanted Dozier to take a walk there so he could have more walks than innings played.
The Royals' pitching well must be getting dry. Andres Machado hadn't pitched above rookie ball until this season (he missed 2014 due to injury). He was having a poor year in high-A, made one appearance in AA, made seven starts in AAA (which were adequate, but no more) and here he is pitching in the majors. Good luck to him and all, but again, there's no real reason to think he belongs in the majors right now.
Still not another double.
I'm not predicting it, but if Mauer could hit .300 for a couple more years, and win a gold glove at first besides, his Hall of Fame case would look pretty good again.
I think that is a fair opinion.
Royals already bringing in the subs in the bottom of the third.
Heh, that means Gibson doesn't have to worry about the second time through the order yet.
Pawtucket takes a 4-3 lead over Rochester in the top of the seventh.
Clearly, Miguel Sano was holding this offense back.
The latest in the season Mauer has had a .300 batting average after 2013 is May 15 in 2014. He had a .300 average in May in 2015 and 2016 too but not quite as late.
Fort Myers now leads 4-1 after eight.
Butters sighting.
Fort Myers clinches the division by defeating Jupiter 4-1.
Rochester now trails Pawtucket 5-3 going to the bottom of the eighth.
several of those pitches should be strikes. now I'm feeling a bit sorry for the Royals
Good thing that ball four wasn't called correctly.
(unless it was actually a strike. They didn't show the pitch tracker. Either way.)
it was a strike, and two other balls were on the borders
Fair enough. All's well that ends with a three run homer.
Mauer on pace for 8-8. That might be a record.
That would probably be irresponsible, too.
He'll need to sit out two games after this one then
Joe's has a shot of vitamin .300 today.
I think our run differential may be positive after this game if this keeps up
I think it's down to -2 after that Escobar HR. Unbelievable.
Just went to confirm, yup, - 2.
Make it +1
There it goes!
Rochester still trails 5-3 going to the bottom of the ninth.
And the Red Wings go down in order in the bottom of the ninth. The magic number remains two with two days left in the season.
Welcome to the big leagues, Niko Goodrum!
Well, we know now -- get a double digit lead, and Good Gibson shows up
No third-time through the order effect with all the subs.
whatever it takes, my friend, whatever it takes
Ho-hum. Another three-run homer.
Positive run differential!
That is amazing.
And of course, dick ranting like a madman against run differential. "it doesn't tell you anything!"
Just let us have something nice, Bremer!
17 runs puts them in a six-way tie for 19th in most runs scored by the Twins.
None of the 17+ run games have held the opposing team scoreless. Only one time, out of 15, with the Twins scoring 16 was a shutout.
This win counts for two, according to Pythagoras.
something creepy about Dazzle saying, "...and getting an opportunity to stroll around this beautiful ballpark and shag..."
Brian Dozier will probably not reach 100 runs scored, but he is making a mad dash. Currently at 82. Scored 32 runs since August 1.
Come on shutout!
Oh, yeah.
And that is the largest margin of victory in a shutout in Twins history.
And to add on, Baltimore already pay and LAAAAAA are down 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth.
Should have been 5-2 if not for the stupid replay.
Joey Gallo advances to third on an error and the Angels challenge saying his foot popped off the bag for 14 milliseconds. MLB replay agrees and he's out. I hate miniscule deviations are scrutinized to get the out.
Me too.
Seems like it happened to the Twins once a week for the first two months of this season.
Agreed. And because of that, they last a good chance for an Insurance run. So of course the angels tied it up just now.