Tag Archives: Minnesota Twins

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021 Game Logs 11 & 12: Boston Red Sox at Minnesota Twins

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Game 1:
Nathan Eovaldi
vs
Kenta Maeda

Lineup:
Arraez - 3B
Polanco - 2B
Cruz - DH
Kepler - RF
Astudillo - 1B
Kirilloff - LF
Cave - CF
Jeffers - C
Riddle - SS

Game 2:
Eduardo Rodriguez
vs
José Berríos

Two seven-inning games. Still not a fan of those post-2020.

Twins have dropped the last three and risk falling below .500 since Game 2. Maeda and Berríos are the two starters you'd want pitching to end that streak. I hope the bullpen takes the day off because really, they aren't helping.

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021 Game Log 10: Red Sox and Twins

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Twins and Red Sox look to get started again after yesterday's postponement. Looks like today's announced starters will remain with Monday's starters going on Wednesday as part of a doubleheader. That means A.J. Happ versus former Twin Martin Perez.

Going to be lousy weather with wet raw temperatures in the upper 30's. I bet you could get in the game for under $10 if you wanted to (bundle up!).

Red Sox have been decent this year, not sure if it's SSS or they've made some real improvements. Twins have played well except for a relieve who shall remain nameless.

1:10p first pitch, let's hope for some baseball as a small distraction to trying times.

Twins Lineup
CF - Buxton
LF - Garlick
C - Garver
2B - Polanco
DH - Sano
3B - Arraez
1B - Astudillo
SS - Simmons
RF - Cave

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021 Game Log 9: Boston Red Sox at Minnesota Twins Canceled

Hey, gang, no time to rap with you. Here are your lineups. Play ball!

BOSTON RED SOX
1. Kike Hernandez LF
2. Christian Vazquez DH
3. JD Martinez RF
4. Xander Bogaerts SS
5. Rafael Devers 3B
6. Hunter Renfroe CF
7. Christian Arroyo 2B
8. Bobby Dalbec 1B
9. Kevin Plawecki C
SP. Martín Pérez

MINNESOTA TWINS
1. Byron Buxton CF
2. Kyle Garlick LF
3. Nelson Cruz DH
4. Mitch Garver C
5. Miguel Sano 1B
6. Willians Astudillo 3B
7. Andrelton Simmons SS
8. Luis Arraez 2
9. Jake Cave RF
SP: J.A. Happ

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 11

Pop Corkhill (1858)
Ossee Schrecongost (1875)
Matsutaro Shoriki (1885)
Sam Chapman (1916)
Barney McCosky (1917)
Jim Hearn (1921)
Bob Casey (1925)
Sid Monge (1951)
Bret Saberhagen (1964)
Turner Ward (1965)
Sean Bergman (1970)
Robin Jennings (1972)
Jason Varitek (1972)
Trot Nixon (1974)
Todd Dunwoody (1975)
Kelvim Escobar (1976)
Mark Teixeira (1980)
Andres Blanco (1984)
Alejandro De Aza (1984)
Kenta Maeda (1988)

Matustaro Shoriki is known as the father of Japanese baseball.

Bob Casey was the Twins' public address announcer from 1961 until his death in March of 2005.

Jason Varitek was drafted by the Twins in the first round in 1993, but did not sign.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 11 →

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 9

Doc White (1879)
Hippo Vaughn (1888)
Vic Sorrell (1901)
Fred Frankhouse (1904)
Claude Passeau (1909)
Zip Payne (1909)
Joe Brinkman (1944)
Peter Gammons (1945)
Nate Colbert (1946)
Kirk McCaskill (1961)
Hal Morris (1965)
Graeme Lloyd (1967)
Rudy Hernandez (1968)
A. J. Ellis (1981)
David Robertson (1985)
Luis Arraez (1997)

Cecil "Zip" Payne was a long-time minor-league player and manager, collecting 2,179 hits.

Joe Brinkman and Derryl Cousins hold the record for most games umpired together, 2,123.

Rudy Hernandez was an infielder in the Mets organization from 1987-1991, reaching AA.  With the exception of 2004, he has been a manager or coach in the Twins' organization since 2001.  He is currently a batting coach for the major league team.

We would also like to wish a happy birthday to Mama MagUidhir.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 9 →

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021 Game Log 4: Minnesota Twins at Detroit Twins Tigers

92 Comments

Well, the Twins basically got the series sweep, if not technically (I forget what happened at the end of that first game). I'd call it a decent start to the year.

They hop over Lake Michigan for a three game set with Tigers, all DAY GAME ALERTs. Looks like we'll be spending our lunch breaks with the Twins this week.

A lot of familiar faces in the other dugout this series, including Akil Baddoo who cranked a donger on the first major league pitch he saw. I have a feeling he won't be offered back to the Twins this year...

Shoemaker makes his Twins debut facing off against Jose Urena in a battle of the righties. Nelson Cruz also debuts in his natural position, so hopefully the Boomstick can start to get into a groove. It's a nice, warm day to enjoy some afternoon baseball.

Keeping Track

2003 Rewind: League Leaders

Twins in the top ten in the American League in various categories:

POSITION PLAYERS

Defensive WAR

  1. Hank Blalock, Tex, 3.0

10.  A. J. Pierzynski, 1.5

Batting average

  1.  Bill Mueller, Bos, .346

8.  Pierzynski, .312

OBP

  1.  Manny Ramirez, Bos, .427

9.  Doug Mientkiewicz, .393

Triples

  1.  Cristian Guzman, 14

4 (tie).  Luis Rivas, 9

Hit by pitch

  1. Jason Giambi, NY, 21

6 (tie).  Pierzynski, 15.

Sacrifice hits

  1.  Ramon Santiago, Det., 18

3. Guzman, 12.

9 (tie). Rivas, 8

Sacrifice flies

  1.  Jeff Conine, Bal., 12

6 (tie).  Corey Koskie, 9.

Intentional walks

  1.  Ramirez, Bos., 28

5 (tie).  Pierzynski, 12.

GIDP

  1. Paul Konerko, Chi, 28

6 (tie).  Rivas, 20.

Caught Stealing

  1.  Alex Sanchez, Det., 18

5 (tie). Guzman, 9.

AB per strikeout

  1. Deivi Cruz, Bal., 11.2

9 (tie).  Doug Mientkiewicz, 8.9
Pierzynski, 8.9

PITCHERS

Walks per nine innings

  1. David Wells, NY, 0.85

3. Brad Radke, 1.09

6.  Kyle Lohse, 2.02

Games

  1.  Trever Miller, Tor, 89

5. LaTroy Hawkins, 74

6 (tie).  J. C. Romero, 73

Saves

  1.  Keith Foulke, Oak., 43
  2. Eddie Guardado, 41

Strikeouts

  1. Esteban Loaiza, Chi, 207

8 (tie).  Johan Santana, 169

Starts

  1. Roy Halladay, Tor, 36

8 (tie).  Radke, 33
Lohse, 33

Complete games

  1.  3 tied at 9

7 (tie).  Radke, 3

Shutouts

  1. 5 tied at 2

6 (tie).  Rick Reed, 1
Lohse, 1
Radke, 1

Home runs allowed

  1.  3 tied at 34

4. Radke, 32.

Hits allowed

  1. Halladay, Tor., 343

3 (tie).  Radke, 242

8 (tie).  Kenny Rogers, 227

K/BB

  1.  Halladay, 6.38

5. Radke, 4.29

10.  Lohse, 2.89

Earned Runs allowed

  1. 2 tied at 123

4 (tie).  Radke, 106

Wild pitches

  1. Victor Zambrano, TB, 15

6 (tie).  J. C. Romero, 9

Hit by pitch

  1. Zambrano, TB, 20

8 (tie).  Rogers, 11.

Games finished

  1.  Foulke, Oak, 67

3.  Guardado, 60.

Adjusted pitching runs

  1.  Pedro Martinez, Bos., 49

8.  Santana, 27.

Adjusted pitching wins

  1. Martinez, Bos., 5.1

8. Santana, 2.7

Base-out runs saved

  1.  Martinez, Bos., 52.61

6.  Santana, 33.22

WPA

  1. Loaiza, Chi, 5.3

7.  Hawkins, 4.1

9.  Santana, 3.7

Sit. Wins Saved

  1. Tim Hudson, Oak, 4.8

8.  Santana, 2.7

Championship WPA

1. Martinez, Bos, 5.5

3.  Hawkins, 4.7

8.  Santana, 2.5

Base-out wins saved

  1.  Martinez, Bos., 5.5

6.  Santana, 3.3

Keeping Track

2003 Rewind: ALDS, Game Four

NEW YORK 8, MINNESOTA 1 IN MINNESOTA

Date:  Sunday, October 5.

Batting stars:  Torii Hunter was 3-for-4.  A. J. Pierzynski was 2-for-4.

Pitching star:  Eric Milton pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, giving up two hits and striking out two.

Opposition stars:  David Wells pitched 7.2 innings, giving up one run on eight hits and no walks and striking out four.  Derek Jeter was 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk.  Jason Giambi was 2-for-4 with two doubles.  Alfonso Soriano was 2-for-5 with two RBIs.  Jorge Posada was 2-for-5.

The game:  Well, it was good for three innings.  The Twins got a man to second in both the second and third, but could not get him farther.  The Yankees had only one hit, and did not advance the man past first.

Then came the fourth.  Jeter struck out, but Giambi and Bernie Williams hit back-to-back doubles to get New York on the board.  Posada singled to put men on first and third.  Hideki Matsui hit a ground-rule double to make it 2-0.  Aaron Boone popped up and Juan Rivera was intentionally walked to load the bases.  It backfired, as Nick Johnson doubled home two and Soriano singled home two more.  It was 6-0 Yankees, and the game and the series were pretty much over at that point.

They played the remaining five and a half innings, of course.  The Twins got on the board in the bottom of the fourth on consecutive singles by Hunter, Pierzynski, and Michael Cuddyer.  The Yankees scored in the eighth when Boone singled, stole second, and scored on a bunt single-plus-error by Rivera.  The Twins got a pair of two-out singles in the eighth to drive Wells from the game, but did not score.  Jeter homered leading off the ninth.

WP:  Wells.  LP:  Johan Santana.  S:  None.

Notes:  The Twins used their standard lineup with the exception of Cuddyer at DH.  Shannon Stewart was in left and Jacque Jones in right.  There were no in-game lineup substitutions.

Santana was dealing with a hamstring issue, which is likely why he could not keep it going after three innings.  His line was 3.2 innings, six runs, six hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.

The Twins were outscores sixteen to six in the series.  Six runs over four games, and three in the last three, is not likely to get the job done.

Little did we know the string of post-season futility this series began.

Record:  The Twins lost the best-of-five series, three games to one.

Keeping Track

2003 Rewind: ALDS, Game Three

NEW YORK 3, MINNESOTA 1 IN MINNESOTA

Date:  Saturday, October 4.

Batting stars:  A. J. Pierzynski was 1-for-3 with a home run.  Shannon Stewart was 1-for-3 with a walk.

Pitching stars:  Kenny Rogers struck out three in 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk.  J. C. Romero pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk.  Juan Rincon pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a walk and striking out one.

Opposition stars:  Roger Clemens pitched seven innings, giving up one run on five hits and a walk and striking out six.  Juan Rivera was 3-for-4.  Bernie Williams was 2-for-3 with a double and two walks.  Hideki Matsui was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer.  Mariano Rivera struck out three in two perfect innings.

The game:  Williams doubled leading off the second and Matsui hit a one-out two-run homer to give the Yankees the early lead.  It went to 3-0 in the third on singles by Rivera, Derek Jeter, and Williams.  A. J. Pierzynski led off the bottom of the third with a home run to cut the lead to 3-1.

And that's where it stayed.  The Twins got a pair of two-out singles in the fifth, but pinch-hitter Michael Ryan struck out to end the inning.  Doug Mientkiewicz led off the sixth with a single-plus-error but was stranded on second.  Mariano Rivera again came into the game at the start of the eighth inning and the Twins could again do nothing against him.

WP:  Clemens.  LP:  Kyle Lohse.  S:  Rivera.

Notes:  The Twins again used the same lineup.  Ryan pinch-hit for Luis Rivas in the fifth.  Denny Hocking went in to play second base.  Lew Ford pinch-hit for Hocking in the eighth.  Chris Gomez went in to play second base.

Lohse started and pitched five innings, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks and striking out five.  He threw 105 pitches in those five innings.  The Yankees of that era made you work, as have the Yankees in many eras.

The Twins were 0-for-6 with men in scoring position.

The Twins had held New York to eight runs over the three games.  The trouble was the Twins had only scored five, and had scored just one in each of the last two games.  The record of teams scoring one run is better than that of teams scoring zero, but it's still not very good.

The Twins would send Johan Santana, who was still dealing with an injured hamstring, to the mound to try to save the season the next day.  He would face David Wells for New York.

Record:  The Twins were 1-2 in the best-of-five series.

Keeping Track

2003 Rewind: ALDS, Game Two

NEW YORK 4, MINNESOTA 1 IN NEW YORK

Date:  Thursday, October 2.

Batting stars:  Shannon Stewart was 2-for-3 with a walk.  Torii Hunter was 2-for-4 with a home run.  Those were the only hits the Twins had.

Pitching stars:  Brad Radke pitched 6.1 innings, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks and striking out four.  Juan Rincon pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a walk.

Opposition stars:  Andy Pettitte struck out ten in seven innings, giving up one run on four hits and three walks.  Alfonso Soriano was 3-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs.  Jason Giambi was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.  Mariano Rivera pitched two perfect innings and struck out one.

The game:  Singles by Soriano, Derek Jeter, and Giambi loaded the bases for the Yankees with none out in the first.  All the Yankees could do, though, was get a sacrifice fly from Bernie Williams to take a 1-0 lead.  The Twins got a man to second with two out in the third and New York had a man on second with one out in the fourth, but the score remained 1-0.

Hunter led off the fifth with a home run to tie it 1-1.  An error and a single put men on first and third with two out, but the Twins could not take the lead.  The Yankees had men on first and second with two out in the fifth and the Twins had men on first and second with two out in the sixth, but the score remained tied.

But New York took control in the seventh.  Nick Johnson was hit by a pitch and was bunted to second.  Soriano delivered an RBI single to give the Yankees the lead.  Jeter then reached on an error, putting men on second and third, and Giambi hit a two-run single to make it 4-1 New York.  Rivera came in and the Twins could do nothing with him, so there is where the score ended.

WP:  Pettitte.  LP:  Radke.  S:  Rivera.

Notes:  Stewart was in left and Jones in right.  The Twins made no in-game lineup substitutions.

LaTroy Hawkins had a great year, but he couldn't get it done in this game.  He entered in the seventh with the score tied, a man on second, and one out.  He gave up the Soriano single, made the error on Jeter's grounder, and gave up the Giambi single.  J. C. Romero got the side out after that, but the game was gone.

Hunter and Stewart were batting .500 over the two games.  Corey Koskie was batting .250.  No other Twin was over .167.

Still, the Twins were even in the series, and were coming home for the next two games.  It seemed like they had a good chance to win the series.  At the risk of revealing a spoiler, it didn't quite work out that way.

Record:  The Twins were tied with the Yankees 1-1 in the best-of-five series.