The #MNTwins wanted to win the series against the @Tigers for multiple reasons. One, to win the series against the Tigers. Two, to go .500 on this 6-game homestand so they can head out on a 10-game road trip with some momentum and…3, to start a winning streak.
The @Twins had LHP Martin Perez on the mound and they had to face LHP Matthew Boyd. That means Mitch Garver is in the lineup because he’s crushed lefties all season long.
Perez began the game with a 1-2-3 inning including 2 swinging strikeouts to end the inning. Then Mitch Garver led off the game with a walk but Matthew Boyd then got a flyout and 2 swinging strikeouts of his own to end the 1st inning.
In the bottom of the 3rd, Jonathan Schoop led off the inning with a walk, only his 16th walk of the season. That brought Mitch Garver back up to the plate and he’s struggled for most of the month of August, hitting a triple slash of .192/.250/.442 (Average/On-Base %/Slugging %) going 10-for-52 with 4 doubles, 3 HRs, 8 RBIs & 10 runs scored with 4 walks & 12 strikeouts so it was nice to see him hit his 12th double of the season to score Schoop and put the Twins in a 1-0 lead. Jorge Polanco then grounded out to 2nd & Garver advanced to 3rd so Nelson Cruz could hit an RBI-groundout to 3rd and score Garver to put the Twins up 2-0.
Perez had a perfect 1-2-3 4th inning including 2 more strikeouts (5) as he set down 5 straight Tigers. In the bottom of the 4th, Miguel Sano led off the inning with his 17th double of the season then Max Kepler was hit by a pitch and that brought C.J. Cron up to the plate and he’s struggled since coming off the Injured List on August 3rd and getting him going will be a big help to this team so seeing him hit his 21st HR of the season was nice. It was a 3-run shot to center field that put the Twins up 5-0.
The Tigers responded with back-to-back doubles from Jody Mercer & John Hicks to lead off the top of the 5th to score their first run and then scored their 2nd run later on an RBI-single from Harold Castro.
Perez threw a perfect 6th to end his day with a quality start of allowing under 3 runs (2) and pitch 6 or more innings. He allowed 5 hits & 1 walk while striking out 5.
In the bottom of the 6th, C.J. Cron earned a 1-out walk then Jonathan Schoop hit a 2-out, 2-run HR to left field. It was his 18th HR of the season and he has also struggled as the season has gone on, losing his starting spot to the hot-hitting Luis Arraez but his bat can be a nice weapon off the bench and he brings some good defense, too, so he’s someone they might need down the stretch. 7-2 Twins.
RHP Cody Stashak pitched the 7th & 8th innings for the Twins allowing just 1 hit while striking out 1 then LHP Lewis Thorpe pitched the 9th. He struck out the first batter then allowed a single, a double and a weakly hit single and the Tigers closed the deficit to 7-4 but Thorpe got a flyout and a groundout to end the game.
The Indians lost 9-8 in extra innings after tying the game in the 9th so that increases the American League Central lead to 3.5 games so, with 32 games left this season, the Twins clinch number is 29. That’s 29 Twins wins or Indians losses to clinch the division and a playoff spot.
The Twins have the day off on Monday before they start a 10-game road trip beginning with a 3-game series in Chicago vs the White Sox. They will then travel to Detroit for 4 games and end the trip with 3 games in Boston.
