Twins 4, Athletics 0: The Santanas Lead The Way

It's too bad that this game wasn't televised in Twins Territory because we missed one of the best pitching performances from a Twins pitcher this season. Ervin Santana, who has been recently scouted by the Texas Rangers, made a solid case that he could be a valuable trade chip as he pitched a complete game 2-hit shutout. Meanwhile, the offense was led by Danny Santana as he fell just a home run short of the cycle today.

Ervin Santana and A's starter Sonny Gray traded zeroes for the first half of the game until the Twins broke through in the 5th. After a leadoff walk by Robbie Grossman, he was brought home on an RBI single from Joe Mauer. The score would remain unchanged until the 7th when the Twins added two more runs, started once again by a Grossman walk and Mauer hit. Though the A's did retire Grossman on a fielder's choice from Brian Dozier hit directly at shortstop Marcus Semien, Miguel Sano followed with a single and Max Kepler brought home the first run with a bases-loaded walk. Eddie Rosario tacked on another insurance run with a sacrifice fly.

Though most didn't contribute to the scoring, Danny Santana put together a solid game with a single, double, and triple. That triple was an opposite-field hit that was just inches from being a home run above the out-of-town scoreboard, and he came in on a sacrifice fly from Eduardo Nunez. However, the insurance runs weren't necessary as Ervin Santana set down one Oakland Athletic after another, yielding just a single to Stephen Vogt and a double to Billy Butler in the game.

WP: Ervin Santana (3-7)

LP: Sonny Gray (3-8)

Studs

Ervin Santana (9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K), Robbie Grossman (1-for-3, 2 BB, R), Joe Mauer (3-for-5, RBI, R), Danny Santana (3-for-4, 2B, 3B, R)

Duds

None

Roll Call