NEW YORK YANKEES 11, MINNESOTA TWINS 1 IN NEW YORK

Date:  Sunday, April 29, 1973.

Batting star:  Dan Monzon was 2-for-3 with a walk.

Pitching star:  None.

Opposition stars:  Ron Blomberg was 4-for-4 with a double, a walk and three RBIs.  Graig Nettles was 2-for-4.  Thurman Munson was 2-for-5 with a triple and three RBIs.  Matty Alou was 2-for-5 with two runs.  Fritz Peterson pitched 7.1 innings, giving up an unearned run on six hits and three walks and striking out four.

The game:  New York took a 1-0 lead in the first, as Roy White walked, Thurman Munson singled, and a pair of productive ground outs followed.  The Twins tied it in the second.  Joe Lis reached on an error with one out, Danny Thompson doubled, Dan Monzon walked to load the bases, and Phil Roof delivered an RBI single.

It stayed tied until the fourth.  With two out, Ron Blomberg singled and scored on a Johnny Callison double to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead.  New York increased its lead in the sixth.  Matty Alou, Bobby Mercer, and Graig Nettles all singled to bring home a run, and Blomberg followed with an RBI double to put the Yankees up 4-1.

The Twins put two on with two out in the seventh and with one out in the eighth, but failed to score.  Then, in the bottom of the eighth, New York put it out of reach, scoring seven times.  The Twins put one man on in the ninth, but fell 11-1.

WP:  Fritz Peterson (2-3).

LP:  Bill Hands (2-2).

S:  Lindy McDaniel (3).

Notes:  Phil Roof was behind the plate in place of George Mitterwald.  Dan Monzon was at second base in place of Rod Carew.  Jerry Terrell was at third base in place of Steve Braun.  Mike Adams was in left.  There really wasn’t a regular left fielder, with Jim Holt getting the most appearances there with 80 and Larry Hisle following with 50.  Hisle was in center, which was his primary position in 1973.  Danny Walton was in right field, with Bobby Darwin, the regular right fielder, at DH and Tony Oliva out of the lineup.

This was the second game of a doubleheader, which explains the number of regulars out of the lineup.

This was the first game in which Dan Monzon batted in 1973, so he was batting .667.  He would finish at .224.  Jerry Terrell was batting .364.  He would finish at .265.  Larry Hisle was batting .304.  He would finish at .272.  Rod Carew, who did not play in this game, would win the batting title at .350.

Ray Corbin had an ERA of 2.92.  He would finish at 3.03.

Graig Nettles played for the Twins from 1967-1969.  Bernie Allen, who was 0-for-2 with two walks, played for the Twins from 1962-1966.

Lindy McDaniel started pitching in the top of the eighth, with the score 4-1, which is why he was able to get a save.

What a team the 1973 Twins were.  They had a few good players, but their regulars included George Mitterwald, Joe Lis, Danny Thompson, Jim Holt, and Bobby Darwin.  The rotation was not bad, with Bert Blyleven (2.52 ERA), Jim Kaat (4.41), Joe Decker (4.17), and Dick Woodson (3.95).  Also making double-digit starts were Bill Hands (3.49) and Dave Goltz (5.25).

Kaat was in his age thirty-four season.  He would be placed on waivers in August and claimed by the White Sox, but would only play another ten years after that.

The 1973 Yankees had a lot of players who, if you remember them at all, you don’t remember as Yankees.  Matty Alou, Johnny Callison, Hal Lanier, Bernie Allen, all had substantial careers in other places.

Record:  New York was 9-10, in fourth place in the AL East, one game behind Baltimore.  They would finish 80-82, in fourth place, seventeen games behind Baltimore.

The Twins were 9-8, tied for third with California in the AL West, two games behind Chicago.  They would finish 81-81, in third place, thirteen games behind Oakland.

Random Record:  The Random Twins are 24-25 (.490).

TORONTO BLUE JAYS 3, MINNESOTA TWINS 2 IN MINNESOTA

Date:  Wednesday, September 22, 1982.

Batting stars:  None.

Pitching star:  Brad Havens pitched 9.1 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk and striking out eight.

Opposition stars:  Garth Iorg was 2-for-5.  Buck Martinez hit a home run, his eighth.  Jim Clancy pitched a ten-inning complete game, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk and striking out five.

The game:  The Twins took an early lead.  Bobby Mitchell led off the first with a walk, Tom Brunansky hit a one-out double to put men on second and third, and a two-base error brought them both home to put the Twins up 2-0.

Toronto did not even mount a threat until the fourth, when Damaso Garcia and Garth Iorg led off with singles, but a line drive double play took them out of the inning.  The Twins threatened in the fifth, getting one-out singles by Sal Butera and Lenny Faedo, but a double play took them out of the inning as well.  

The Blue Jays got on the board in the seventh, when Iorg and Barry Bonnell led off with singles, and an error brought home a run.  Martinez homered with one out in the eighth to tie it at two.  Each team went down in order in the ninth, so we went to an extra inning.

The Twins went down in order in the tenth.  With one out, Leon Roberts walked, and Billly Gardner brought Ron Davis into the game.  Pinch-runner Lloyd Moseby stole second, which led to an intentional walk to Willie Upshaw.  A ground out moved men to second and third, leading to an intentional walk to Hosken Powell.  Damaso Garcia then drew an unintentional walk to force in a run.  It turned out to be the deciding run.  Ron Washington singled with one out in the tenth, but a double play ended the game.

WP:  Jim Clancy (14-14).

LP:  Brad Havens (9-13).

S:  None.

Notes:  Sal Butera was behind the plate in place of Tim Laudner.  Ron Washington was at second base in place of John Castino, who was playing third.  Gary Gaetti, the regular third baseman, did not play.  Randy Bush was the DH.  The Twins did not have a regular DH.  The player with the most games there was Randy Johnson with 66.  Others used there were Jesus Vega (39), Mickey Hatcher (29), Bush (26), and Dave Engle (20).

Kent Hrbek was batting .304.  He would finish at .301.

Hosken Powell drew a pinch-hit walk.  He had played for the Twins from 1978-1981.

By game scores, this was the second-best game Brad Havens had in 1982.  His best was July 18, when he pitched a complete game against Detroit, giving up one run on three hits and three walks and striking out three.

Ron Davis had come to the Twins in an April trade for Roy Smalley.  The Twins also got Greg Gagne and Paul Boris in the trade.

This was not the only time in 1982 that Jim Clancy pitched ten innings.  He also did so in a June 19 game in Oakland.  He got a no-decision in that one, going ten innings and giving up an unearned run on three hits and two walks and striking out ten.  

This was the only time Brad Havens pitched more than nine innings in 1982.  However, he had four complete games.

The Twins had only one reliever who had an ERA below four, and that was Paul Boris at 3.99 in 49.2 innings.  Other relievers that year were Jeff Little (4.21), Ron Davis (4.42), Terry Felton (4.99), Pete Redfern (5.85 as a reliever), and John Pacella (7.37).  The starters were nothing to shout about, but things got worse when Billy Gardner went to the bullpen.

Record:  Toronto was 71-81, in seventh (last) place in the AL East, twenty games behind Milwuakee.  They would finish 78-84, tied for sixth, seventeen games behind Milwaukee.

The Twins were 57-95, in seventh (last) place in the AL West, thirty games behind California.  They would finish 60-102, in seventh place, thirty-three games behind California.

Random Record:  The Random Twins have lost six in a row and are 23-24 (.489).

TORONTO BLUE JAYS 3, MINNESOTA TWINS 1 IN TORONTO

Date:  Wednesday, August 1, 2001.

Batting star:  Doug Mienkiewicz was 2-for-4.  Jacque Jones was 2-for-4.

Pitching stars:  Kyle Lohse pitched seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk and striking out two.  Todd Jones pitched a perfect inning, striking out one.   

Opposition stars:  Brad Fullmer was 3-for-3 with a home run (his twelfth) and a double.  Carlos Delgado hit a home run, his twenty-ninth.  Roy Halladay pitched eight innings, giving up one run on six hits and a walk and striking out two.

The game: The Twins had men on first and second with one out in the first, thanks to singles by Jones and Mientkiewicz, but nothing came of it.  The scoring started in the second, when Delgado led off with a home run.  Fullmer doubled later in the inning, but was stranded at second.  Toronto scored again in the fourth when Shannon Stewart led off with a double, went to third on a ground out, and scored on a sacrifice fly, making the score 2-0.

Meanwhile, the Twins had only one hit in innings two through six.  They got on the board in the seventh, though.  Doug Mientkiewicz singled and Corey Koskie walked, putting men on first and second with none out.  A double play almost took them out of the inning, but David Ortiz delivered a double, cutting the lead to 2-1.

The Blue Jays got the run right back in the bottom of the seventh, when Brad Fullmer led off with a home run.  The Twins got the tying run up to bat in both the eighth and the ninth, but they did not score again, and Toronto won 3-1.

WP:  Roy Halladay (1-1).

LP:  Kyle Lohse (3-4).

S:  Billy Koch (22).

Notes:  Denny Hocking was at short in place of Cristian Guzman.  Chad Allen was in right field in place of Matt Lawton, who had been traded to the Mets a couple of days earlier for Rick Reed.

Doug Mientkiewicz was batting .329.  He would finish at .306.

Shannon Stewart went 1-for-4 in this game.  He would be traded to the Twins two years later and would play for them through 2005.

Todd Jones had been traded to the Twins a few days earlier for Mark Redman.  He would only stay through the end of 2001, leaving as a free agent.  He would play in the majors through 2008.

It was the rookie year for Kyle Lohse.  He had made his first start on June 22.  2001 was a struggle, as he went 4-7, 5.68.  He would do better, but would not have an ERA under four until 2008, when he was with St. Louis.

Roy Halladay was still in the process of establishing himself as a major league pitcher.  He’d had a full season in the majors in 1999 and done pretty well, but 2000 was a struggle for him and he was back in AAA for part of the season.  He came back to the majors about a month before this game.   The next year he would be an all-star, and the year after that would win the Cy Young Award.

Record:  Toronto was 50-58, in third place in the AL East, 15.5 games behind New York.  They would finish 80-82, in third place, 16 games behind New York.

The Twins were 60-47, in second place in the AL Central, 1.5 games behind Cleveland.  They would finish 85-77, in second place, 6 games behind Cleveland.

Random Record:  The Random Twins have lost five consecutive games and are 23-23 (.500).

DETROIT TIGERS 4, MINNESOTA TWINS 3 IN DETROIT (13 INNINGS)

Date:  Tuesday, August 5, 1969.

Batting stars:  Tony Oliva was 3-for-7.  Rich Reese was 2-for-5 with a walk.  Ted Uhlaender was 2-for-6 with a home run (his sixth) and a walk.  Leo Cardenas was 2-for-6.

Pitching stars:  Dean Chance pitched 6.2 innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on seven hits and a walk and striking out three.  Ron Perranoski pitched two shutout innings, giving up a hit and a walk and striking out one.  Dick Woodson pitched 3.2 innings, giving up one run on four hits and two walks and striking out three.

Opposition stars:  Norm Cash was 3-for-5.  Mickey Stanley was 3-for-6.  Don Wert was 2-for-6.  Gates Brown hit a home run, his first.  Denny McLain pitched seven innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on eleven hits and two walks and striking out four.  Don McMahon struck out four in two shutout innings, giving up a hit and a walk.  Pat Dobson pitched three shutout innings, giving up two hits and a walk and striking out one.

The game:  Each team scored once in the first inning.  For the Twins, singles by Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew, and Rich Reese produced a run.  In the bottom of the inning, singles by Mickey Stanley, Tom Tresh, and Norm Cash tied the score.

The Twins took the lead in the fourth.  Cesar Tovar reached second on a single-plus-error and scored on a Leo Cardenas single.  Ted Uhlaender led off the fifth with a home run, giving the Twins a 3-1 lead.

But that was as good as it got.  In the sixth, Gates Brown led off with a home run.  Later in the inning Willie Horton walked, went to third on a throwing error, and scored on a wild pitch to tie it 3-3.

Each team had chances.  In the seventh the Twins loaded the bases on two singles and a walk.  In the eighth a single and a walk put Tigers on first and second with one out.  The Twins got a single and a walk with two out in the ninth and got a man as far as third in the eleventh.  

The Tigers finally pushed the winning run across in the thirteenth.  In his fourth inning of relief, Dick Woodson gave up a leadoff walk to Al Kaline and a single to Norm Cash, putting men on first and third.  Even though first base was occupied, Billy Martin ordered an intentional walk to Willie Horton, loading the bases.  It looked like the strategy might work, as Woodson struck out Bill Freehan and Dick Tracewski.  But Don Wert got an infield single to bring in the deciding run in a very frustrating loss for the Twins.

WP:  John Hiller (3-3).

LP:  Dick Woodson (6-5).

S:  None.

Notes:  Cesar Tovar was in center field, with Ted Uhlaender in left.  Uhlaender was the regular center fielder.  The Twins didn’t really have a regular left fielder.  Bob Allison played the most games there (58), followed by Graig Nettles (54), Uhlaender (44), Charlie Manuel (41), and Tovar (40).  Yes, the Twins took a future Gold Glove third baseman and played him in the outfield.  The Twins, throughout their history, have put third basemen in the outfield.  Trevor Plouffe! and Miguel Sano are two names that come to mind.

Rod Carew was batting .363.  He would finish at a league-leading .332.  Tony Oliva was batting .333.  He would finish at .309.  Rich Reese was batting .320.  He would finish at .322.

Dean Chance had an ERA of 2.51.  He would finish at 2.95.  Ron Perranoski had an ERA of 1.65.  He would finish at 2.11.

There were no players for Detroit who had or would play for the Twins, but Don McMahon was the Twins’ pitching coach from 1976-1978 under Gene Mauch.

In the “Things that would probably never happen today” file, we have a thirteen-inning game (which does still happen, but it’s pretty rare) and each team using a reliever for three or more innings (and not as primary pitcher following an opener).

The Twins ran wild on the bases in 1969, but did not steal any bases in this game.  They did have one caught stealing.

This was one of fourteen games Gates Brown played in the field in 1969, as he played left.  He appeared in sixty games, but generally was used as a pinch-hitter.  For his career, he had 500 plate appearances as a pinch-hitter and batted .251/.356/.421 with sixteen home runs in those plate appearances.  That’s another thing that would never happen today:  a player on the roster who’s chief responsibility was to pinch-hit.

This was Tom Tresh’s last year in the majors.  He had been with the Yankees since 1961, but was traded to Detroit on June 14, 1969.  I don’t remember him as a home run hitter, but he hit over twenty four times and had 153 for his career.

Record:  Detroit was 59-47, in second place in the AL East, fourteen games behind Baltimore.  They would finish 90-72, in second place, nineteen games behind Baltimore.

The Twins were 67-42, in first place in the AL West, three games ahead of Oakland.  They would finish 97-65, in first place, nine games behind Cleveland.

Random Record:  The Random Twins are 23-21 (.523).