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Twins Top Cardinals 3-1

A well-pitched game on both sides was marred only by some Cardinals defensive miscues.

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Coming into the game, it seemed that a Carlos Martinez vs. Tommy Milone match-up would be pretty one-sided. However, both pitchers tossed the ball well, but ultimately the Twins came out on top 3-1 thanks to some miscues from the Cardinals defense in Byron Buxton's home debut.

The Cardinals took the lead early in the second inning thanks to a leadoff double by Mark Reynolds. He moved up to third base on a single by Randal Grichuk, and then scored later on a bloop single to center by Jason Heyward.

From there, the Twins scratched together a few runs to take the game. In the 4th inning, Trevor Plouffe led off with a double and advanced to third on a single by Eddie Rosario. With runners on first and third, Martinez attempted a pickoff throw to first base, but slipped as he spun. His throw was still adequate, but Reynolds at first base was unable to catch the throw, allowing Plouffe to score and Rosario to advance to third. Eduardo Nunez followed with a sacrifice fly, and suddenly the Twins were in front.

They would eventually add an insurance run in the 8th inning when Rosario had a two-out stand-up triple, followed by an infield single by Eduardo Nunez. He was originally ruled out, but Paul Molitor challenged the call and replays showed that shortstop Jhonny Peralta's throw pulled Reynolds off the first base bag, allowing Nunez to be safe.

That third run ended up being unnecessary, but it did add a little relief as Glen Perkins struggled a bit in picking up a 4-out save. He had no problem getting the Twins out of the 8th inning when he induced a fly out from Kolten Wong with a runner on second base, but the 9th inning was adventurous. It started with a single from Carpenter, followed by another single from Peralta that Rosario was unable to keep in his glove as he made a diving attempt. However, Perkins struck out Reynolds and Grichuk, then got Yadier Molina to tap a weak grounder back to the mound on a check swing to end the ballgame.

As for Buxton, he made a nice running catch off the bat of Matt Carpenter, but otherwise he was pretty quiet in his home debut. He struck out twice, though in one of his at-bats he nearly turned a weak chopper to Carpenter at 3B into an infield single.

WP: Tommy Milone (3-1)

LP: Carlos Martinez (7-3)

S: Glen Perkins (23)

Studs

Tommy Milone (7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K), Eddie Rosario (2 for 4, 3B, 2 R), Eduardo Nunez (2 for 2, BB, 2 RBI)

Duds

Byron Buxton (0 for 3, 2 K)

Roll Call

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<th width=20>#</th><th>Commenter</th><th># Comments</th>

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<td>1</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Brananorama">Brananorama</a></td><td>123</td>

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<td>2</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/SooFoo%20Fan">SooFoo Fan</a></td><td>68</td>

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<td>3</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/twinsgirl197">twinsgirl197</a></td><td>61</td>

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<tr class="alt">

<td>4</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/less%20cowbell%2C%20more%20'neau">less cowbell, more 'neau</a></td><td>41</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>5</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Win-MIN-Twins">Win-MIN-Twins</a></td><td>33</td>

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<td>6</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Devereaux">Devereaux</a></td><td>22</td>

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<td>7</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/myjah">myjah</a></td><td>15</td>

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<td>8</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/domesticllama">domesticllama</a></td><td>14</td>

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<td>9</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/smookaj">smookaj</a></td><td>5</td>

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<td>10</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/kenzertz">kenzertz</a></td><td>5</td>

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<td>11</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Dave%20Wales">Dave Wales</a></td><td>3</td>

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<td>12</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/health%20hippo">health hippo</a></td><td>2</td>

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<td>13</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Blame%20Mauer%20bot">Blame Mauer bot</a></td><td>2</td>

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<td>14</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/twinsbrewer">twinsbrewer</a></td><td>1</td>

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<td>15</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/clutterheart">clutterheart</a></td><td>1</td>

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<td>16</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Imakesandwichesforaliving">Imakesandwichesforaliving</a></td><td>1</td>

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<td>17</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/DerTwain">DerTwain</a></td><td>1</td>

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<td>18</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Daniel%20Louden">Daniel Louden</a></td><td>1</td>

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</table>

Win Probability Chart

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2015-06-17&team=Twins&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width = "450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2015-06-17&team=Twins&dh=0&season=2015">FanGraphs</a></span>