Lookin' good!
Tag Archives: Minnesota Twins
Game 44: Twins 7, Red Sox 2
Yesterday's game featured great examples of the various facets of what makes for winning baseball, and highlighted why it is the Twins (26-18) have moved to only 2 games behind AL Central-leading Kansas City. Their recent improvements on offense, defense and pitching were all on display in the first four innings. To start the game off, we saw:
-a 6-run second inning (12 men batted),
-a diving catch by Hicks in the second to save a run with the game at 1-0, and
-Ricky Nolasco striking out 3 (of his 5), inducing 3 ground outs (one a nifty around-the-horn double play -more defense!- to end a first inning threat) and bearing down to get some important outs in the third after the Red Sox put their first two batters on base to start the inning.
Every Twins player contributed to the 16 total hits and only Kurt Suzuki didn't score a run or notch an RBI.
Ricky Nolasco (5-1, 5.12 ERA) ended up going 7 2/3 innings, scattering 7 hits and allowing 2 earned runs while striking out 5 and walking none. With Mookie Betts standing on second, Aaron Thompson replaced Nolasco and got David Ortiz - he of the .509 batting average at Target Field (prior to yesterday) - to line out. Boyer pitched the 9th, allowing only one hit, and the Twins won for the third day in a row, 7th out of their past 10 games, and for the 16th time in May.*
*Last year, Minnesota was 23-21 after 44 games. The Twins won their 15th home game on May 27th. They'd lost 13 games on the road by May 26 of last year; they're at 12 road losses so far in 2015.
2015 Game 44: Boston Red Sox vs. Minnesota Twins – Memorial Day Edition
I hope everyone has had an enjoyable and agreeable Memorial Day weekend. I'm sure there will be plenty of pomp and spectacle during the actual game, but whenever you get a chance today, maybe take a moment and quietly reflect on the holiday and those whose memory it honors.
I was thinking about trying to make yesterday's game in Chicago, but other vague plans (which didn't materialize) and threat of weather kept us away. A shame as it would have been a good one.
Anyway, now that the Twins aren't playing Chicago, I can actually watch them again. Score. They leave the Prairie State with a 4-1 road trip in their back pocket, and six games at home in front of them, where they've enjoyed a .700 record (2nd in the AL).
They'll open up that homestand with 3 games against the 3rd place Red Sox. Someone posted a link recently that mirrored the exasperation this team has been causing me. They're just not supposed to be this good, you know? Regardless, I will continue to cautiously watch, and enjoy the ride.
Happy Memorial Day, you guys.
Continue reading 2015 Game 44: Boston Red Sox vs. Minnesota Twins – Memorial Day Edition
Game 43: Minnesota @Chicago
After last night's game, Chicago ace Chris has 2 losses on the year and both of 'em have come courtesy of the Twins. Game three will decide who takes the Memorial Day weekend series.
Today's matchup features Kyle Gibson (3-3, 2.98 ERA, 1.32 WHIP) and Jose Quintana (2-4, 4.13 ERA, 1.35 WHIP).
Gibson's coming off consecutive losses for the first time this season, though the 2-1 loss against Detroit on May 12 wasn't his doing (5 hits, 1 earned run, 0 BB and 6 K's in 7 innings). He wasn't nearly that good on the 17th against Tampa (8 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 BB and 2 K's in 5 innings). Hopefully, we get a bounce-back game from Kyle.
He'll be opposed by Quintana who's coming off a string of five games where he's allowed 2 earned runs or less while averaging 6.2 innings pitched, 6.1 K's and 2 BB per game. During that stretch, he's 2-3 due to a notable lack of offense (a total of 10 runs scored in those five games). His last start against Cleveland on the 19th wasn't great, allowing 8 hits and 4 BB while only striking out 4. Hopefully, we get another game like that and the Twins can put up some runs.
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 41 Twins at White Sox 7:10pm.
Lets take a look at the AL Central Standings
Team W L GB
KCR 26 14 --
DET 25 17 2.0
MIN 23 17 3.0
CHW 18 20 7.0
CLE 17 23 9.0
We almost to Memorial Day and the Twins are still in the thick of the race. Thats awesome! Bonus action this weeks is that if the Twins sweep, they really put a world of hurt to the Pale Hosers, and thats always great.
Go Twins Go.
Game 40 Recap: Twins 4, Pirates 3 (13 Innings)
Extra-inning home runs are cool.
Continue reading Game 40 Recap: Twins 4, Pirates 3 (13 Innings)
Game 36 recap: Twins 3, Rays 2.
It looked like it was going to be one of those games where a Twins starting pitcher goes strong but the offense cant score enough runs. But, thats not what happened as the Twins rallied in the 7th to win 3-2 at Target Field Friday night.
The Rays took the lead in the 2nd on a David DeJesus solo home run. The Twins answered back in the 3rd with a Brian Dozier birthday blast. In the 5th is where things got frustrating. 2 outs and a runner on second and Kevin Keirmaier hits a soft pop up to left field. Eduardo Escobar looks like he had a play on it, then pulled up and let the ball fall in and Joey Butler easily scores. Im pretty sure Delmon Young makes that play.
I like Double E, but is it worth having a guy whose career batting slash line of .254/.297/.365/.662 and playing wobbly, but average defense out there when the potential future mainstay Eddie Rosario is up and sitting on the bench (although he made a pinch hitting appearance tonight)? I suppose if the team is winning more games than losing you dont want to rock the boat too much and keep the same guys out there.
Anyway, the Twins took the lead in the 7th on a Aaron hick single, Danny Santana triple, and Brian Dozier sac fly. Blaine Boyer pitched a scoreless 8th and Glen Perkins saved it in the 9th.
NOTES
- Glen Perkins now has 100 career saves. Joe Nathan, Rick Aguilera, Eddie Guardado, Ron Davis, and Jeff Reardon are also in the 100+ Save as a Twin Club.
-The Twins have hit at least 1 triple in 3 of the last 4 games (5 total in that span)
-Phil Hughes was credited with a win, his 19th as a Twin. Other Twins players with 19 wins include Keith Atherton, Matt Guerrier, Ron Davis, Roy Smith, and Scott Diamond.
-Did Brian Dozier score a run? Yes. He is now at 26 for the season. A little bit behind last years pace where he had 34 runs scored after 26 team games.
Game 36: Twins hosting Rays. 7:10pm.
The Twins are coming of a disappointing series in Detroit, only winning 1 of 3 games. Overall I would say the season is a bit surprising on the good side. It just may by one of those deal where Detroit is a real bad matchup for us and they are going to win 14 games against us ever year.
The Twins come home to play Tampa. Phil Hughes starts for the Twins. Jake Odorizzi throws for the Rays. Odorizzi has an interesting transaction history as he has been part of two mega deals in 5 years. First the Zach Grienke to the Brewers trade (a trade decidedly in favor of the Royals) and the second trade was the Wil Myers/Ordorizzi to the Rays and the Royals get James Shields/Wade Davis. That trade seems to have worked out for both teams (Myers being spun off tot he Padres this past off season). Further down the road, it will be interesting to make a Odorizzi Trade Tree.
Go Twins Go.