Twins Top Whities, 6-2

Since his last home run (8/17 versus the Yanks), Trevor Plouffe had been strugggggggling, with a .188 average in the last 20 games.  He had a better game tonight, as his two solo dongs proved critical in a 6-2 victory for Minnesota.  The win allowed them to keep pace with a victorious Rangers squad and stay one game back for the second AL wild card slot.

Chicago's Erik Johnson threw a boatload of pitches in his five innings, but only got touched for one run, a majestically stroked solo dong from Plouffe that opened the scoring in the fourth.  The Twins should have broken it open in the first, as Eddie Rosario narrowly missed a bases-loaded home run (or "grand slam") on a nice play from Avisail Garcia.

Ervin Santana wasn't lights out (no double-digit strikeout total this time) but avoided danger for the balance of the evening and notched a third consecutive quality start.  The exception: a 2-run dong shot from Adam Eaton in the fifth. Santana was aided by two outfield assists from Torii Hunter, including a play at the plate, plus a game-tying double from the Twins veteran in the sixth.

Plouffe unknotted the game in 8th with a second dong, even more majestic than the first, giving the Twins a 3-2 lead and cinching the victory for Santana.

Trevor May was unhittable in the bottom of the frame, then the Twins tacked on some insurance in the 9th.  Eduardo Escobar belted a solo dong to extend the lead to 4-2, then Sox reliever Zach Putnam exacerbated his troubles with singles and walks and wild pitches upon wild pitches, one of which scored Aaron Hicks to make it 5-2.  Plouffe capped his evening with an RBI single to extend the lead to four.  Kevin Jepsen pitched a 1-2-3 9th, and all was right with the world again.

ROBOT ROLL CALL

CHARTS & GRAPHS

Source: FanGraphs

Enjoy the game, everybody.