The #MNTwins sent LHP Martin Perez to the mound against Kansas City Royals RHP Jorge Lopez today in the final home game of the regular season. Hopefully, there will be a lot of home games in the Postseason at Target Field.
Martin Perez began the game by allowing back-to-back singles then a double steal but he got a groundout to 3rd and a strikeout looking before getting an inning-ending groundout to short to end the inning with the game still scoreless.
The Twins bats dropped 6 runs on the Royals in the bottom of the 1st:
- Luis Arraez grounded out to short for the first out.
- Jorge Polanco singled.
- Nelson Cruz singled to a diving Adalberto Mondesi at short and he re-aggravated his shoulder injury and had to leave the game.
- EDDIE EDDIE EDDIE Rosario doubled (25) to score Polanco. 1-0.
- Mitch Garver grounded out to 2nd for the 2nd out.
- Marwin Gonzalez singled to score Cruz. 2-0.
- Miguel Sano BLASTED his 32nd HR of the season. 5-0.
- Jake Cave walked.
- LaMonte Wade singled.
- Arraez singled in Cave. 6-0.
- Polanco flew out to end the 1st inning.
6-0 Twins!
Unfortunately, Perez continued his inconsistent pitching today as he lasted only 2.1 innings as he allowed 5 runs between the 2nd & 3rd innings before Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli went to his bullpen and brought in RHP Zack Littell to get them out of the 3rd and then pitch the 4th inning, too. He gave up 1 run on 2 hits and no walks while striking out 2.
The Twins never gave up the lead, though. Miguel Sano hit his 2nd HR of the day and 33rd of the season in the bottom of the 3rd to put the Twins up 7-5.
The Royals then got an RBI-double (19) from Nicky Lopez to get back within 1 run but…
That didn’t last long as Nelson Cruz hit his 40th HR of the season and the 400th HR of his Career to put the Twins back up by 2 runs at 8-6.
Mitch Garver had to leave the game due to right hip tightness but Rocco said after the game that he should be fine although, they would make sure he was okay and we’ll likely get an update by tomorrow.
Tyler Duffey pitched the 5th and he struck out the side with all of them being swinging strikeouts on his mid-90s fastball! Man, has he been fun to watch in the 2nd half as he is pitching with confidence in his much-improved stuff.
Trevor May got the 6th and he walked one and allowed a hit but also struck out 1 (He May) before getting a groundout to end the inning.
Another Rosario RBI-double (26) and another RBI-single from Marwin Gonzalez added 2 runs to the Twins lead at 10-6.
RHP Cody Stashak got the 7th and he got 2 swinging strikeouts & allowed a double before getting a flyout to end the inning.
The bottom of the 7th brought 2 more RBIs on another Rosario double (27) and a Marwin walk with the bases loaded to make it 12-6.
RHP Fernando Romero got the 9th. He began the inning with a swinging strikeout then walked 2, got another swinging strikeout then walked another to load the bases. Rocco went to Sergio Romo and he walked 2 runs in before getting a swinging strikeout of Andrew Gordon to end the game and give Zack Littell his 6th win of the season. Tyler Duffey (15) & Trevor May (16) both earned holds for their work.
It may have not been pretty but a win is a win and a win means the Magic Number is down to 3! The Indians are playing the Phillies right now on ESPN. Another Cleveland loss would lower the number to 2!
The Twins have a day off tomorrow before starting their final road trip of the season which will also finish the regular season with 3 games at Detroit and 3 games at Kansas City. RHP Jake Odorizzi is scheduled to start Tuesday night’s game against Detroit RHP Spencer Turnbull at 5:40pm on Fox Sports North.
Will they clinch in Detroit?
