Tag Archives: Minnesota Twins

2015 Twins Game Recaps

Game 128 recap: No Mauer, No Sano, No Problem. Twins 3 Astros 0

Joe Mauer  was getting a day off (He has played in 125 of 128 games and only batting .231 against Scott Kazmir) and Miguel Sano getting a day off because of a tender hamstring. Well, the regulars and fills in made do and scored enough runs to get the Twins another win this week.

Eduardo Nunez replaced Sano and he hit a home run and got another RBI on a fielder choice (and really a nifty play by Jose Altuve. Made the stop deep to his right and threw an off balance throw to get Nunez by a half step). Torii Hunter drew a bases loaded hit-by-pitch to get the other run.

 

Kyle Gibson was OK, going 5 2/3 scattering 4 hits, issuing 4 walks, and striking out 4. The bullpen then went to work with Glen Perkin coming in the game in the 7th and striking out two. He looked like his pre-All Star Game form striking out two. Trevor May's assortment of 95 mph fast balls and dipsy-do curveballs pitched a clean 8th. Kevin Jepsen made things hairy in the 9th but got enough outs to preseve the shutout.

NOTES

-The Twins won a game despite only getting 3 hits. Two of those hits were for extra bases.

-Eduardo Nunez had a "whoopsie" moment when he tossed a ball towards first base and it ended up somewhere near the State Fair.

- After getting swept by New York the Twins have won 7 of the last 8 games.

- Kevin Jepsen notched his 4th save in a Twins uniform. Other notable pitchers  4 saves: John Candelaria, Hector Carrassco, Mark Portugal, Pete Filson.

- Kyle Gibson made his 67th career start as a Twin. That is 38th on the Twins list. If he pitches one more full season, he will crack into the Top 25. I find that fascinating because to me it goes to show how much roster turnover the Twins have had. Although Nick Blackburn made 137 starts and is 16th on that list, so sometimes stability is not the best.

 

2015 Twins Game Logs

Game 128. Astros at Minnesota!

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I think the phrase "biggest game at Target Field in 5 years" is a bit overblown, but hey its sports, everything is hyperbole!

 

No Mauer (tough matchup against Kazmir) and no Sano (tender hamstring) tonight for the Twins. Kind of a bummer, but whatever the Twins have dealt with worse. Like the evaporation of a starting pitcher getting more than 15 outs.

Kyle Gibson will try to buck that trend, again.

 

2015 Twins Game Recaps

Game 127 Recap: Rays 5, Twins 4

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Well, shoot.

It hurts to lose a winnable game.  It was all right there for the Twins.  They led 4-2 after four innings and 4-3 through five.  But then Tommy Milone was perhaps left in a bit too long, the score was tied, and then Kurt Suzuki, who we're constantly told is a really good defensive catcher, allowed a passed ball to score what turned out to be the tying run.

It hurts to lose a winnable game.  The Twins, who had been so good with men in scoring position throughout the winning streak, went 1-for-6 in that situation last night.  Had they managed one more hit with men in scoring position, they might have won the game.

It hurts to lose a winnable game.  But on the other hand, during the winning streak, they won some losable games, too.  At some point, it was probably bound to even out.  It might have been easier to take if the winning streak had ended with an 8-2 loss, but the result in the standings would've been the same.

Still, a 6-4 road trip against three fairly good teams is nothing to be ashamed of.  We come home to play another good team, the Houston Astros.  There's a sentence I didn't expect to write this season.  Kyle Gibson, who has been alternating good and bad games, goes for the Twins.  He'll face Scott Kazmir, who's having an excellent year and who handled the Twins pretty easily the last time he faced them.  It won't be easy, but we know how it's going to come out.  Tonight we start our season ending thirty-five game winning streak!  We'll just have to settle for 100-62!

2015 Twins Game Recaps

Game 126 Recap: Twins 5, Rays 3

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Okay, everyone who a week ago, when the Yankees wrapped up their sweep of the Twins, thought the Twins would go on to win their next six games on the road, raise your hands.  Okay, now put your hands down, because you know you're lying.

Continue reading Game 126 Recap: Twins 5, Rays 3 →

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.