Im glad I will be able to watch tonights game, I watched maybe 20 pitches and I was down for the count. If the Twins can get to 5 games before the All Star Break that would be wonderful.
On a non-Twins related note, I thought this was a good article from Deadspin:
You Don't Forget Albert Pujols
This is the 4th weeks of the MLB season and the first time the Twins have played on a Friday. No snow in the forecast since the game is in a Dome. Maybe returning to The Trop is the kickstart Logan Morrison needs to get his season going.
In the continual roller coaster of the Twins season, we are now back on the downward slide. Three losses out of four games against marginal teams has left everyone a little grumpy. Will the Twins bounce back like they have so many times this season and finally put a stranglehold on a playoff berth or is this fatal fall that we’ve all worried about since May? Except for Sano, Twins looking to field a full roster today as Castro back to catching after being in the concussion protocol. Bartolo Colon on the mound for the Twins and they will need a big sexy game from him. Jake Odorizzi brings his pedestrian 7-7, 4.85 record to the Trop for the Rays. Game at 6:10p.
I see that hungry joe has a draft post, but I don't have any ability to publish it, so this will have to do. hj, if you want to import what you wrote here and delete this, feel free to do so. Go Twins!
If today is like how the rest of the season has panned out, the Twins will lose this game. Why? The Twins had have four 4 game win streaks but zero 5 gamers.
I shouldn't be such a pessimist. This team has exceeded expectations, while mostly playing a fun brand of baseball.
Hector Santiago goes for the Twins. Chris Archer for the Rays.
The Twins had a win-loss record of 15-11 in the month of July. 3-1 so far in August. While the Twins have piled up wins lately (43 for the season), they are still bottom of the table in the American League. BUT, only one win behind Tampa (44). This series is a huge one!
Enjoy the game!
(picture above is NOT Tropicana Field, but close enough)
*Weather delay pending
I hope baseball-reference updates Twins All Star Robbie Grossman's profile pic. Right now it shows him in a Clevelander hat and thats not right.
Ricky Nolasco starts for the locals tonight. Yeah, he's been not good but at least he has been striking out people! ( 53k in 58 innings = 8.2 k/9)
The Twins have been bad, but at least they haven't done this feat (yet!).
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.
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.
