Twins 9, Angels 4: Trio of dingers help take down Anaheim

Byron Buxton hit his first major league home run of the year in the sixth inning of what had already largely become a Twins trampling.

The Twins struck early, scoring a very Twins-y run in the top of the first. Eduardo Nunez singled to lead-off the game, stole second, advanced to third on a balk by Angels starter Jared Weaver, and then scored on a Joe Mauer RBI single. The lead didn’t last long, however, as the Angels scored in the bottom of the second on a play that also involved a botched a run-down by the Twins. Interference was called on Trevor Plouffe, who ran directly into Gregorio Petit (but didn’t have the ball. Doh!) The run would have scored anyway, but it just wasn’t pretty.

The sloppy defensive play continued right into the top of the third. After Robbie Grossman walked, Johnny Giavotella bobbled a likely double-play ball allowed Mauer to reach and moving Grossman to third. The error proved costly as Trevor Plouffe came up next and hit a three-run home run.

Despite the error, Giavotella killed the Twins at the plate, going 4-for-4 and hitting a home run off the second pitch of new waiver claimee Neil Ramirez’s Twins career. Sounds like Neil will fit right in on this team!

Luckily, the Twins had spent most of the game picking away at the Angels, so despite Ramirez’s slightly questionable debut the Twins still won. Oh yeah, Robbie Grossman hit a home run in there somewhere too. It’s late, shoot me.

ROLL CALL!