Game 95: Oakland Athletics at Minnesota Twins

The Twins’ AL Central lead is down to 4 games, and for the second time in as many weeks, the Twins get to face the hard-charging A’s (55-41, 2nd in the West, 4.5 games in back of Houston, 8-2 in their last 10) while Cleveland (also 8-2 over their past 10 games) are looking to complete a sweep of the terrible Gardy’s (Detroit). CLE took 3 out of 3, June 21-23 & have won the first 3 of their current 4-game series ... yeah.

I’m going to focus on the pitcher tonight because the professionals on the offensive side of the equation have had their game scrutinized sufficiently over the 1st half. Though maybe they wouldn’t mind getting back to the April/May Twins as opposed to the last months-worth of games (scoring 5 or fewer runs 16 times in 24 games for a record of 13-11).

“Fun” statistical coincidence(?) and the perfect example of the mediocrity average baseball we’ve been seeing recently...
Last 10: 5-5
Last 20: 10-10
Last 30: 15-15

In his last start, Gibson managed to secure only 11 outs against Cleveland (July 12) before giving way to the bullpen in a game the Twins came back and win 5-3. Gibby is having a slightly better year numbers-wise than his career averages, but I’d certainly appreciate it if we see a start more in line with his June 14 blanking of the Royals - 8 IP, 2 H, 6 SO. I’d even take a start like his last winning performance against the Rays on June 25th: 4 ER on 7 H, with 7 SO scattered over 7 innings. We’ll see.

76 thoughts on “Game 95: Oakland Athletics at Minnesota Twins”

  1. Fifty years and five-ish minutes ago, the crew of Apollo 11 are listening to an instrumental version of “Fly Me to the Moon.” Houston catches a bit of the broadcast and tells them to “keep it coming.”

    1. 50 years ago today was also Chappaquiddick. 30 years ago today was Donnie Moore's murder-suicide.

      1. Looked the latter from my seat. Kepler didn't react in center as if looked particularly concerned or might not be caught.

  2. They keep giving away multiple extra outs each game both in the field and on the bases. The most valuable currency in baseball just being given away.

        1. Acceptable start. Three runs in six innings is below average again, but six strikeouts and no walks is good.

          1. I assumed he was done after six but nope. Instead a good start for Gibson. Seven strikeouts in seven innings to go with no walks.

  3. EDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

  4. I'll have to check later, but every time I've seen Petit pitch in person he's gotten crushed

    1. 6.75 ERA at Target Field in three games prior to today. Two runs given up in 2017 and one run in 2018 across two games. The first game was scoreless over two innings but the next day he gave up a home run in his single inning of work.

    2. Update:

      After yesterday, I've seen Petit in person pitch 4 times:
      17 batters faced, 2.2 IP, 9 hits, 7 runs (all earned), 2 K's, 2 HR's (ERA of 23.63)

      Yes, that means he lowered his ERA yesterday.

  5. At what point do we change his name to "Luis Arraez, Professional Hitter"?

    Another curated at bat. Err, plate appearance.

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