The #MNTwins are taking advantage of playing under .500 division opponents having won their 5th game in a row on Thursday night with a 10-5 win in Chicago. Did they make it 6 straight against Detroit Tigers RHP Edwin Jackson last night?
The Minnesota Twins got the offense going right away in the top of the 1st inning scoring 4 runs after beginning the inning with 5 straight baserunners on a walk, 3 singles and a fielder’s choice followed by an error that allowed Rosario to advance to third. Runs scored on RBI-singles from DH Nelson Cruz and LF Eddie Rosario. The other runs scored on the Miguel Sano fielder’s choice and a groundout from Luis Arraez. 4-0 Twins.
RHP Kyle Gibson was on the mound for the Twins and his start did not induce positive thoughts as he allowed 5 hits (2 doubles) and a wild pitch and the Tigers cut the Twins lead in half. 4-2 Twins.
The Twins offense had Gibby’s back, though, scoring those 2 runs back in the top of the 2nd with a Max Kepler RBI-double (30) & a Nelson Cruz sacrifice fly. 6-2 Twins.
Gibby had a better 2nd inning but still allowed another run on back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning from John Hicks and Jake Rogers. He allowed a Victor Reyes single after that but then got a strikeout and a double-play to end the inning. 6-3 Twins.
The Twins offense kept putting runs on the board, scoring 2 more in the 3rd on a C.J. Cron double (23) and a wild pitch to increase their lead to 8-3.
Gibby had a 1-2-3 3rd inning to get that offense back to the plate quickly and they added 4 more runs on an Eddie Rosario RBI-groundout and a C.J. Cron 3-run HR (23). 12-3 Twins.
Gibby allowed a HR to John Hicks (11) in the bottom of the 4th then had a clean 5th before being replaced by RHP Tyler Duffey for the 6th inning. Quietly, Tyler Duffey is having a great season in the Twins bullpen and he kept that going with a perfect inning, striking out the side on 10 pitches with all of them coming on swinging strikes.
RHP Trevor May then pitched the 7th and he also struck out the side and has maybe rounded into form here in the month of August. In 12.1 innings, he’s allowed just 4 hits, 3 walks & 1 run (Tyler Naquin HR on August 8th in a 9-5 Twins win vs Cleveland) while striking out 17 for an ERA of 0.73 and a WHIP of 0.579. After August 8th, he’s allowed no runs and only 2 hits & 1 walk while striking out 13 for a 0.00 ERA & a WHIP of 0.333. How ‘bout that?
That’s 2 relievers turning into reliable pieces in a bullpen that was said to need the most help at the Trade Deadline yet the starters are struggling while the bullpen looks to be turning into a strength. The relievers acquired at the trade deadline also pitched last night. RHP Sam Dyson allowed a solo HR to Ronny Rodriguez in the 8th but he also struck out 1. RHP Sergio Romo allowed a leadoff single then set the next 3 down, ending with a game-ending strikeout.
The Twins did add another run in the top of the 8th when Max Kepler doubled (31) and then scored on an Eddie Rosario single.
13-5 Twins for a 6-game winning streak and 1 home run to move the season total to 262.
Today, the Twins will go for 7 straight with LHP Martin Perez on the mound today at 5:10pm on Fox Sports North pitching against Tigers LHP Matthew Boyd and…you never know, they may just break the HR record today. They need 6 to break it!
