Tag Archives: Baltimore Orioles

2017 Twins Game Logs

2017 Game 41: Minnesota Twins vs. Baltimore Orioles

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Okay, I'm not sure what to type here. My last game log, I went off on an ill-advised bout of pessimism, and since then the Twins have continued playing some fairly decent ball. Obviously there's issues abound (like the starting pitching staff), but it's been nice to watch games and have a reasonable expectation that they might actually win.

Anyway, I still don't know how I should feel about this lteam. As AG noted today, the Twins have been in first place a total of 18 days this year. Between 2011-2016 they were in first place a combined 13 days. So, again, I'm not sure just exactly how I should be taking this team in, but for now I'll stop asking too many questions and just enjoy it.

Back to the game at hand: the Twins open up a 3-game series on Bawlmore before heading back home. Speaking of questionable starting pitching, Kyle Gibson lugs his giant ERA back to the majors as Hughes is put on the shelf with "right arm soreness". Gibby wasn't able to win any games down on the farm either, but it appears he pitched a little better than when he was last up. The O's counter with Ubaldo Jimenez who, while generally struggling over the past few years, has never really had any problems smacking the Twins around (2.49 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 11 appearances).

Oh, and Escobar is DHing again for some reason.
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2016 Twins Game Recaps

2016 Series 1 Recap: Orioles 3, Twins 0

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Different year, same start. Twins once again are swept in the opening series. It would be easy to say it worked out okay for them last year, but it didn't really. Yes they performed better than expected but they finished three wins behind the Astros. If they instead had swept the Tigers to start the season they would have at least had a playoff game.

I watched barely any of the games and had the radio on for only a plurality of the time so I'm going to fill in the bad and good from the boxscores.

Four negatives from the series:

  • Run scoring. Obviously they did better than last year, improving their runs scored by 500%. It is nonetheless difficult to win when you top out at two runs.
  • Strikeouts. The batters struck out 35 times but walked only six times. All six walks happened in the second game.
  • Dozier not starting well. He finishes the series with a 0.083 OPS. He had one walk in 13 PAs.
  • Not pinch hitting for Suzuki in game two. He's the only other player without a hit and he reached base only once.

Three positives from the series:

  • Run prevention. Giving up only 3.67 runs a game bodes well for willing. AL teams averaged 4.4 runs a game in 2015.
  • Mauer starting well. He had a home run to center and has a nice 1.021 OPS after three games.
  • Escobar starting well. He had a double in each game and two in the opener. He has a 1.167 OPS after three games.
2016 Twins Game Logs

2016 Game 1: Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles – Opening Day Edition

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DAY GAME ALERT!

From hell's heart, we stab at winter: Baseball is back! The Twins open the year in Balmore, or at least they'll try to. Rain is threatening throughout the afternoon, so we'll see when/if the game starts. We've been waiting so long though that a little more waiting shouldn't hurt, right? Yeah, me neither...

Here are two teams on the bubble, with both expecting big things this year.  And judging by the poll in today's CoC, everyone is full of optimism!!!!11 Let's start things off on the right foot, eh?  Here's hoping the first the inevitable 162 game win streak is an entertaining one!

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2015 Twins Game Logs

Game 124: Twins at Orioles

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Last night's win got Minnesota back over .500, within a game and a half of the 2nd Wild Card spot and only a half-game behind Baltimore, one of the three teams ahead of them in that race. At this point, the Twins are not likely going to catch Kansas City for the Central, and are five and a half behind Toronto for the first Wild Card spot. If they can pass Baltimore, they're still chasing LAA and Texas, and have a series with Tampa this week who they're currently neck-and-neck with. Despite some misgivings about management's plan for the club, it sure is fun when they actually look like a real, live MLB team.

Today sees the Twins' most pleasant surprise pitching-wise, Mike Pelfrey (6-7, 3.62 ERA - 2.25 ERA in four August starts) facing off against up-and-coming Baltimore pitcher Kevin Gausman (2-5, 4.48 ERA). A win today results in both a series and season sweep of the O's. Git 'er done Billy Smith.

2015 Twins Game Recaps

Game 83: Orioles 2, Twins 4 (in 10 innings)

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Brian Dozier (.260/.332/.517) didn't make the MLB All-Star game off of the fan's ballot, but those of us in Minnesota know what he's meant to the team this year. Last night, with 1 on and 1 out in the 10th inning, he hit his 17th homer to left to walk-off the Orioles, helped the Twins to move to 44-39 (2nd WC spot), scored his league-leading* 63rd run, 41st & 42nd RBI (third place on the Twins roster) and improved his team-leading OPS to .849. Among Second Basemen in the American League, only Jason Kipnis has had a better offensive first half (.340/.416/.503). I'm hoping fans of Major League Baseball make the right choice and Dozier is voted in. It'll be tough, three of the other 4 options are from NY, Bos & Chi-town, and the Royals fans have shown their ability to get out the vote (Moustakas is the 4th option).

Vote here if you'd like to see Brian accompany Glen Perkins to Cincinnati.

Every run last night was scored via the long ball: Solo home runs from Manny Machado & Adam Jones for the Orioles and Torii Hunter & Aaron Hicks for the Twins, followed by the 2-Run shot from Dozier.

Trevor May, pitching out of the bullpen due to the reinstatement of Ervin Santana, racked up the win after throwing 16 pitches in the top-half of the 10th, giving up 1 hit and striking out 1. Tommy Hunter, in a similar spot for Baltimore, took the loss.

*Tied with Josh Donaldson

Photo: Brad Rempel, USA TODAY Sports