Minnesota Twins Recap vs Mariners – April 10th, 2021

The Minnesota Twins play their 2nd home game as they try to win the 3-game series today with RHP Michael Pineda (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) on the mound against Seattle Mariners LHP Yusei Kikuchi (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP).

If you didn’t know, Yusei Kikuchi wears the #18 just like Twins RHP Kenta Maeda does, and in Japan (or is it just the NPB), that is meant to signify the ace pitcher. Yusei is a 29-year-old pitcher who pitched 8 seasons in Japan in the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) and was very good, going 73-46 in 108 starts. In 1,010.2IP, he had a 2.77 ERA (Earned Run Average) & a 1.169 WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched) and allowed 810 hits (73 HRs) with 371 walks & 903 strikeouts. He’s slowly adapting to Major League Baseball as he’s had an ERA over 5 in both 2019 & 2020 and allowed 36 home runs in 2019.

Minnesota Twins Lineup:

Seattle Mariners Lineup:

This was a pretty good pitching duel. Twins RHP Michael Pineda allowed a couple of solo home runs but that’s all in 6 innings. He struck out 6 and put his team in a position to win.

Those solo home runs off the bats of Seattle Mariners CF Taylor Trammell* & RF Mitch Haniger came in the 3rd inning. The Twins got a single from Kyle Garlick and that brought up DH Nelson Cruz and right before his at-bat, they showed a highlight of him receiving his 2020 Silver Slugger Award so…in the 1st pitch of the at-bat, Nelson Cruz hit his 4th HR of the season to tie the game at 2!

The next 4 innings had just 3 hits & 2 walks between both teams.

In the top of the 8th, RHP Alex Colomé took over on the mound for Minnesota. He allowed a leadoff single to J.P. Crawford then struck out Mitch Haniger but Crawford stole 2nd on the strikeout pitch to get into scoring position. He then got Ty France to ground out to 3rd which kept Crawford at 2nd. Up came the veteran Kyle Seager and he hit an RBI-single on a line drive to center field to put Seattle up 3-2. Colomé then struck out Jose Marmolejos to end the 8th.

In the bottom of the 8th, Kyle Garlick flew out to center on a great catch by 2B Dylan Moore. Nelson Cruz walked on 4 pitches in what wasn’t an intentional walk but Mariners reliever RHP Rafael Montero wasn’t giving him anything close to something to hit! Byron Buxton was then hit by a pitch (or his jersey was hit by a pitch). Garver ended up grounding out to 3rd in an 8-pitch at-bat that had a 2-0 pitch called a strike that was questionable so it made the count 2-1 instead of 3-0. It did allow Cave to advance to 3rd and Buxton to advance to 2nd.

A Wild Pitch on the 1st pitch to Max Kepler allowed Cave to score and tie the game at 3. Buxton advanced to 3rd.

That brought up Miguel Sano. Max Kepler stole 2nd right after Twins broadcasting analyst said he’d like to see him take 2nd because Seattle probably wouldn’t chance a throw to 2nd because it could give Buxton a chance to score from 3rd. Miguel Sano fouled off the 1st pitch then took 2 inside pitches for balls. He fouled off the 4th pitch & hit it straight back so he timed it well. He took the next pitch, a 95mph sinker that looked outside but the ump called it a strike to end the inning.

What do you think?

Both teams went down 1-2-3 in the 9th to send it to extra innings and everybody’s favorite rule in baseball.

LHP Taylor Rogers pitched the 9th and only needed 8 pitches (7 strikes) to do it so he came back out for the 10th. Seattle Mariners CF Taylor Trammell started the inning at 2nd base. Brendan Bishop laid down a bunt that Rogers got to but couldn’t make the exchange from glove to hand to make a throw so it was a bunt single and Trammell advanced to 3rd on the play. J.P. Crawford grounded out to 3rd. Bishop advanced to 2nd. Mitch Haniger then hit a line drive sacrifice fly deep enough to left field to score Trammell from 3rd to put Seattle up 4-3. Ty France then grounded out to 2nd to end the top of the 10th.

Seattle brought in RHP Keynan Middleton to try to close it out. Jorge Polanco started the inning at 2nd base. Willians #LaTortuga Astudillo pinch hit for Kyle Garlick then popped out to 1st for the 1st out. Jake Cave popped out to short for the 2nd out. Byron Buxton hit a long fly ball down the left field line but it was foul. He then grounded out to short to end the game.

So…the Twins have lost 3 games and every one of them were in extra innings. Sooner or later, you’d think the Twins will have to figure that out, right?

#MNTwins 3, #SeaUsRise 4 | F-10

W-Graveman(1-0) L-Rogers(0-1) S-Middleton(1)

Game Notes

*
The HR was caught by a fan and then thrown back onto the field. It was Seattle Mariners CF Taylor Trammell’s 1st Career HR. I assume the fan didn’t know that because he could’ve gotten something for the ball he caught or got since he didn’t catch it! I’m against throwing a ball back onto the field. It doesn’t make any sense to me. I’ve gone to a bunch of baseball games in my life & I’ve never caught either a foul ball or a home run ball so if I ever do, I’m probably going to keep up.

Hopefully, I’ll remember to bring a baseball with me so I can make the switch and give the baseball I brought to the game to a little kid who, for some reason, deserves it more because they’re a little kid. I don’t understand that but it makes sense to look good instead of looking like a jerk who won’t give a ball to a little kid.

Out-think them!

**
They showed video of Nelson receiving his 2020 MLB Silver Slugger Award (the 3rd one he’s one in the last 4 seasons & 4th overall) and on the 1st pitch of the at-bat, he crushed a ball to the opposite field (EV: 105mph, 364’ at 24º).

So far, Nelson Cruz has looked like the BoomStick Twins fans know & love as he just keeps on slugging!

***
Byron Buxton hit a slow ground ball to the left side. That’s almost as sure of a single in baseball as a frozen rope to the outfield. Apparently, the shortstop still thought he could throw out Buxton, though. He didn’t and because he rushed his throw, it wasn’t accurate and allowed Buxton to go to 2nd. The ball bounced back and the catcher, backing up the play, was really close to getting it right away but it got away from him enough to allow Buxton to slide in safely at 2nd!

At some point, infielders will figure out if it’s hit to the left side, you better know for sure you have a chance to make that play or just eat it and live with it. On the other hand, though, maybe the thinking is they know Buxton can just steal 2nd base so it’s worth the attempted assist.

****
How frustrating is it to get a pitch outside the zone called a strike to end an inning with a runner on 3rd AND that runner is Byron Buxton? Add to that there was already a Wild Pitch that tied the game in that inning so if it’s called a ball correctly, who knows what happens on the next pitch or in the rest of the at-bat.

It’s infuriating!

Plays

Top of 1 (RHP Michael Pineda pitching for MN)

1. RF Mitch Haniger grounds out to short
2. DH Ty France K’d looking
3. 3B Kyle Seager lined out to right center but Buxton gets there to end the top of the 1st

Bottom of 1 (LHP Yusei Kikuchi pitching for SEA)

1. 2B Jorge Polanco flew out to right
2. LF Kyle Garlick K’d swinging on a foul tip
3. DH Nelson Cruz 1B’d on a LD to LF
4. CF Byron Buxton lined a 1B to LF with an exit velocity of 113mph, Cruz to 2nd
5. C Mitch Garver flew out to right to end the 1st

Top of 2 (Pineda at 14 pitches)

1. 1B Jose Marmolejos K’d swinging #BigMiKe
2. C Luis Torrens grounded out to 3rd
3. 2B Dylan Moore K’d looking #BigMiKKe

Bottom of 2 (Kikuchi at 17 pitches) 23 pitch inning

1. RF Max Kepler K’d swinging on a foul tip
2. 1B Miguel Sano hit a loud flyout to CF
3. SS Andrelton Simmons walked
4. 3B Luis Arraez K’d swinging

Top of 3 (Pineda at 26 pitches) 14 pitch inning

1. CF Taylor Trammell hit his 1st MLB Home Run out to right field and the fan threw it back. 1-0*
2. LF Sam Haggerty popped out to short
3. SS J.P. Crawford popped out to 3rd
4. Haniger HR’d (2) to left field – 2-0 SEA
5. France flew out to CF

Bottom of 3 (Kikuchi at 40 pitches) 15 pitch inning

1. Polanco lined out to left
2. Garlick 1B’d on a LD to left field
3. Nelson Cruz HR’d** (4) to right field to tie the game at 2!
   1. (Exit Velocity: 105mph, Distance: 364’, Launch Angle: 24º)
4. Buxton hit a soft ground ball to the left side and SS J.P. Crawford was coming in hard and every Twins fan knew Buxton was going to be safe but Crawford rushed his throw*** thinking he could get him and overthrew the base so Buxton took 2nd.
5. Garver K’d swinging
6. Kepler popped up to a shifted SS to end the 3rd inning

Top of 4 (Pineda at 40 pitches) 13 pitch inning

1. Seager popped up to 3rd and he slammed his bat on the field in disgust. 
2. Marmolejos popped up to 2nd & he was disgusted, too.
3. Torrens 1B’d on a groundball to RF
4. Moore K’d swinging #BigMiKKKe

Bottom of 4 (Kikuchi at 55 pitches) 14 pitch inning

1. Sano walked
2. Simmons grounds into a 6-4-3 double play
3. Arraez grounds out to short to end the 4th

Top of 5 (Pineda at 53 pitches) 9 pitch inning

1. Trammell K’d looking #BigMiKKKKe
2. Haggerty 1B’d up the middle against the shift
3. Crawford popped out to left
4. Haniger grounded out to 2nd

Bottom of 5 (Kikuchi at 69 pitches) 11 pitch inning

1. Polanco grounded out back to the pitcher
2. Garlick K’d swinging
3. Cruz flew out to right center

Top of 6 (Pineda at 62 pitches) 13 pitch inning

1. France K’d swinging at a nasty slider #BigMiKKKKKe
2. Seager grounds out to a shifter SS
3. Marmolejos popped up to LF

Bottom of 6 (Kikuchi at 80 pitches)

1. Buxton lined out to right on a frozen rope (106mph off the bat)
2. Garver K’d looking at a curveball on low & outside but in the zone.
3. Kepler lined out to right center

Top of 7 (RHP Tyler Duffey replaced Pineda: 6IP 4H 2R/ER 0BB 5K on 75 pitches)

1. Torrens grounds out to 3rd
2. Moore flew out to right
3. Trammell BB’d
4. Haggerty flew out to left

Bottom of 7 (RHP Casey Sadler replaced Kikuchi – 94 pitches)

1. Sano popped out to 3rd
2. Simmons 1B’d on a groundball to left
3. Arraez lined out to left
4. Polanco K’d swinging 

Top of 8 (RHP Alex Colomé replaced Duffey-1IP 0H 1BB-17 pitches)

1. Crawford hit a soft dribbler back to the pitcher for an infield 1B, Colomé got to it but the throw was a split second too late
2. Haniger K’d swinging, Crawford stole 2nd base (1)
3. France grounded out to 3rd, Crawford stayed at 2nd
4. Seager hit an RBI-1B on a LD to CF to score Crawford – 3-2 SEA
5. Seager stole 2nd (1) – no throw
6. Marmolejos K’d swinging

Bottom of 8 (RHP Rafael Montero replaced Sadler-1IP 1H 1K-21 Pitches)

1. Braden Bishop replaced Sam Haggerty in LF, batting 8th
2. Garlick popped out to 2nd 
3. Cruz BB’d non-intentionally but it was on 4 pitches so…
4. Jake Cave pinch runs for Cruz
5. Buxton is HBP’d (maybe just his jersey), Cave to 2nd
6. Garver grounds out to 3rd, out at 1st, Cave to 3rd, Buxton to 2nd
7. Wild Pitch scores Cave from 3rd to tie the game at 3!
8. Max Kepler is intentionally BB’d
9. Kepler steals 2nd (2); no throw & Justin Morneau said SEA won’t take a chance throwing to 2nd & give Buxton a chance to score. 
10. Sano K’d looking at a 95mph fastball that looked outside to me****

Top of 9 (LHP Taylor Rogers replaced Colomé-1IP 2H 1R/ER 0BB 2K-24 pitches (15 strikes))

1. Cave remains in the game as the DH
2. Torrens grounded out to 3rd
3. Moore popped out to 2nd
4. Trammell popped out to a shifted short

Bottom of 9 (RHP Kendall Graveman replaced Montero-1IP 0H 1R/ER 2BB 1K-22 pitches (10 strikes))

1. Simmons flew out to center
2. Arraez grounded out to short
3. Polanco grounded out to 1st

Top of 10 (Rogers still pitching) 

1. Trammell starts the inning at 2nd base
2. Bishop bunt single, Trammell to 3rd – Rogers couldn’t make the exchange from glove to throwing hand and didn’t even make a throw
3. Crawford grounds out to 3rd, Trammell is held at 3rd, Bishop to 2nd
4. Haniger is quickly down 0-2, sacrifice fly to left field, 4-3 SEA
5. France grounds out to 2nd

Bottom of 10 (RHP Keynan Middleton replaced Graveman-1IP-7 pitches (7 strikes))

1. Polanco starts the inning at 2nd base
2. Willians Astudillo (La Tortuga) (Pinch Hit for Kyle Garlick) pops out to 1st
3. Cave pops up to short
4. Buxton hit a long foul ball down the left field line then grounds out sharply to short to end the game.

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