David Ortiz did everything he could to prevent a Twins win today--but even that wasn't enough.
Recent veteran call-up Chris Parmelee won the game for the Twins in the bottom of the ninth inning with a two-run home run off of Red Sox reliever Andrew Miller. Kurt "Clutch" Suzuki hit a two-out single prior to Parmelee's home run to contribute as the extra RBI.
Things looked shaky for the Twins early on. David Ortiz hit a solo shot off Ricky Nolasco in the top of the first inning, and a slight blunder by Danny Santana in center field costed the Twins a triple to Red Sox Xander Bogarts. Luckily, the Twins didn't give up, and went on to break the game wide open in the bottom of the second inning, scoring five runs, most notable on Eduardo Nunez's two-run home run. (That's why Nunez was playing DH! Or something like that...)
Around this time, the third inning, the Wild hockey game started. Unfortunately, some of us switched to watching that. The Twins went on to dominate for an inning or two--save for another (sigh) solo home run to David Ortiz in the 4th inning--and even added on another run on a RBI line drive by Kurt Suzuki (who else?) in the bottom of the fifth.
In the top of the sixth, David Ortiz hit an RBI single to score his and the Red Sox's third run of the game. The Red Sox's chances got even better after that, when all the non-David Ortiz Red Sox players decided to join in the game. In the top of the sixth inning, Shane Victorino knocked in Jackie Bradley Jr., and was subsequently driven in himself by David Ortiz (does he change all their diapers too!?). Johnny Gomes later walked with the bases loaded to tie the game.
Luckily--unlike the Wild game which ended just a few minutes later--the Twins had some kind of guardian angel. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Kurt Suzuki hit a single to reach base. After him, Chris Parmelee hit the home run to win it, morale of the story being: only root for the Twins ever, everyone else will lose.
STUDS:
- Chris Parmelee: WALK. OFF. HOME. RUN. PERIOD. STOP. OVER.
- Eduardo Nunez: 1-for-4, 1 HR in the second inning, 2 RBI.
- Kurt Suzuki: 3-for-5, 1 run, 1 RBI.
- Jared Burton: 1 inning pitched, 0 hits, 0 walks, 0 runs.
- Matt Guerrier: Blown Save, walked Shane Victorino with the bases loaded to tie the game.
Notes
- Joe Mauer made an EXCELLENT defensive play in the top of the second inning.
- Danny Santana made a not so excellent defensive play in center field in the top of the second inning--but he's actual a short stop. We can forgive him. Right?