Joe has already launched a home run. Duffy has already gone an inning without giving up a run. I'm willing to call this game a win, either way.
Tag Archives: Joe Mauer Is Very Good At Baseball
Game 53: Rays at Twins
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.
Game 4: Minnesota @ Kansas City. 7:10pm
The Twins are the only American League team without a win. This is not cool, but at least the losses were not shutouts like last year.
Last night, Joe Mauer hit his 120th career HR. Maybe this is the year he hits the 15-20 that will maybe silence some of the "Joe Mauer never hits HRs" critics. I hope he hits 80.
Ervin Santana will start for the Twins. He had a handful of pitched Opening Day before being pulled out of the game due to a long rain delay. Yordano Ventura starts for the Royals.
I predict the Twins will get their first victory of the season.
Game 41 recap: White Sox 3 Twins 2.
It started with a bunt.
White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija was struggling in the first and second inning. He was running counts 3-2 on batters and the Twins got 2 runs in the first and Ed Escobar led off the 2nd with a walk. Then a bunt. A first pitch bunt by Eddie Rosario halted all that momentum. Sure he was trying for a base hit and was credited for a sac but that pitch, that play seemed to have thing click on for The Shark. Next batter Aaron Hick swung at the first pitch and hit a lazy fly ball and Santana struck out and that was all she wrote for the Twins offense.
Phil Hughes pitched well except for the 4th inning where the wheels fell off. A walk, a defensive misplay and a misplaced pitch led to 2 runs. Hughes was lifted after 7 inning even though he had 89 pitches (72 strikes!) and was in control. Aaron Thompson came in and walk the second batter he faced and that run came around to score Twins lose 3-2.
NOTES
- Joe Mauer stole third base in the first inning and it led to sac fly by Plouffe. Mauer is 3 for 4 in stealing 3rd. His last attempt was in 2010.
- Mauer has 25 RBI this season, a team high.
- Mauer has 9 doubles, giving him 12 extra base hits this year. That is 4th most on the Twins (Dozier, Plouffe, Hunter)
Game Recap #150: Team Not Going to the Playoffs 6, Team Probably Going to the Playoffs 8
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Game Recap #119: Gibsons 3, Oberholtzers 1
Pitchers' duels are fun.