The Minnesota Twins hadn’t lost 4 games in a row all season long so it was important to keep that streak going since they were now 1.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the lead in the American League Central standings. They were also just a half game back of Baltimore for the final Wild Card spot.
The Minnesota Twins got a boost before the game with the news that Byron Buxton will start in center field for the first time since July 31st or 7 games ago. He missed/sat out 2 of those 7 games but he did pinch hit and finish the August 7th game for 1 inning.
Here’s how both teams lined up:
Minnesota Twins Lineup:
Los Angeles Angels Lineup:
Game Recap
Alright, let’s see if Minnesota Twins RHP Tyler Mahle got his 1st win as a Twin.
CF Byron Buxton started the game by drawing a walk but SS Carlos Correa lined out to center field and DH Jose Miranda grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the top of the 1st inning. The Angels also got their leadoff hitter on base but they did it with a base hit from SS David Fletcher. Twins RHP Tyler Mahle got DH Shohei Ohtani to ground out to 2nd, Luis Rengifo to line out to left field and 2B Taylor Ward to line out to right field to end the 1st inning.
After a popout and a groundout, the Twins got a 2-out single from 3B Gio Urshela then LF Gilberto Celestino hit his 1st HR of the season to put the Twins up 2-0!
HILBERTOOOO CELESTINOOOO!
Twins 2-0!
RF Max Kepler struck out to end the half inning then Tyler Mahle took care of the bottom of the 2nd by setting ‘em down 1-2-3 with a popup and 2 strikeouts, 1 looking & 1 swinging.
Twins C Sandy León led off the 3rd inning with a walk then Buxton struck out & Carlos Correa grounded out to 3rd but León advanced to 2nd. Jose Miranda then singled to left field and Sandy León was sent home but was thrown out rather easily* by Angels left fielder Jo Addell to end the inning.
*A questionable send from 3B coach Tommy Watkins? Testing the arm of Adell, maybe?
Mahle allowed a 2-out single but also had 2 strikeouts to get through the bottom of the 3rd inning.
Gio Urshela hit a 2-out double and Celestino walked but Max Kepler flew out to left field to end the threat. Mahle kept cruising with another 1-2-3 inning with one more strikeout.
Sandy León led off the 5th inning by walking again but Buxton struck out for the 2nd time for the 1st out. Correa singled through the left side. Miranda flew out and Polanco struck out to end the top of the 5th. Mahle allowed a 1-out walk but induced a ground ball for the rare 6-5-3 double play to end the 5th inning.
LHP Patrick Sandoval’s Final Pitching Line:
5IP 5H 2R/ER 4BB 4K 1HR
With Sandoval at 95 pitches, the Angels went to their bullpen to bring in RHP Mike Mayers and he got 1B Luis Arraez to line out to left for the first out then Gio Urshela hit his 11th HR of the season to make it 3-0 Twins and he was just a triple away from a cycle.
Celestino struck out and Kepler flew out to left field to end the top of 6. Tyler Mahle allowed a leadoff walk and a 2-out double which prompted Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli to make a mound visit with Mahle at 83 pitches at that point but Mahle showed Rocco he wanted to stay in so he stayed in the game and 3 pitches later…
Tyler Mahle got Taylor Ward to fly out to right field to end the 6th inning and likely his 2nd start with the Twins.
3-0 Twins!
The Twins got a 1-out single from Buxton but Correa grounded into an inning-ending 4-3 double play.
The Twins brought in RHP Michael Fulmer to pitch the 7th for Minnesota and he needed just 12 pitches to set down the Angels 1-2-3 ending with a swinging strikeout.
RHP Tyler Mahle’s Final Pitching Line:
6IP 3H 0R/ER 2BB 6K
Jose Miranda led off the 8th inning with his 15th double then advanced to 3rd on Polanco’s groundout to 2nd and scored on a Luis Arraez RBI-single to extend the lead to 4-0. Gio Urshela then struck out in his attempt to hit for the cycle. Celestino then flew out to deep left center to end the top of the 8th. RHP Jhoan Duran came in to pitch the 8th and he struck out the first 2 batters he faced but walked David Fletcher before facing Shohei Ohtani but he got him to ground out to 1st to end the 8th inning.
4-0, Twins
The Twins went down 1-2-3 in the 9th. Even though it wasn’t a save situation, Rocco still brought in closer RHP Jorge López to finish the game and he allowed a leadoff to single to Luis Rengifo but got a lineout, a strikeout looking and a groundout to finish the game to snap the losing streak at 3 games and get back in the win column
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