Tigers 2, Twins 1: Highly offensive lineup predictably lacks offense

Here’s the lineup the Twins threw out there today for their first game against the Tigers:

1. Brian Dozier, 2B
2. Robbie Grossman, DH
3. Jorge Polanco, SS
4. Miguel Sano, 3B
5. Jason Castro, C
6. Chris Gimenez, 1B
7. Eddie Rosario, LF
8. Byron Buxton, CF
9. Danny Santana, RF

What’s your gut reaction to that lineup?

If it’s something along the lines of, “Oh my god, the Twins are going to be no hit” you’ve got a pretty good grasp on reality.

Because that’s what nearly almost happened. The Twins didn’t even get their first hit of the game until the top of the sixth inning (thanks, professional hitter Robbie Grossman). Keep in mind as well that the Tigers starting pitcher, Matthew Boyd, gave up five runs in just 2.1 innings against the White Sox last week. All the Twins could get off him? One hit.

Luckily the Twins did get a few more hit after Boyd was removed from the game, and were able to make it interesting in the ninth. Miguel Sano hit a 429-foot double (thanks Comerica) and was able to score on a subsequent Jason Castro double. Joe Mauer pinch hit for Chris Gimenez, and hit a go-ahead home run hit a bloop single to keep the Twins alive. Unfortunately, they didn’t live much longer after that, and ended up with the 2-1 loss.

The sad part about all this is that starting pitched Hector Santiago actually looked pretty darn good. He had given up only one hit all game until the bottom of the fifth inning, and even then, really only made a couple of bad pitches—one that hit Justin Upton, followed by one James McCann hit out of the park. Unfortunately, those two pitches were enough to put the Tigers up by two and create a hole this lineup was unable to crawl out of.

Studs

• Hector Santiago: 6.1 innings, 2 earned runs, 3 hits, 1 walk.
• Michael Tonkin: 1.2 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout.
• Jason Castro: 2-for-4, 1 RBI.

duds

• Byron Buxton: 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.
• Jorge Polanco: 0-for-4, 1 strikeout, 1 (official) error, but those defensive woes at shortstop are rearing their head (off-target throws, etc.)
• Eddie Rosario: 0-for-4, 1 strikeout.
• Danny Santana: 0-for-3

ROLL CALL!