A’s 8, Twins 5: Loaded bases will haunt

Kyle Gibson struggled with the counts early and often today. He gave up a line-drive RBI double to Khris Davis in the 1st. In the 2nd, a lead-off triple by Stephen Vogt was brought home on a single by Chad Pinder. Two hits later, with the bases loaded, Gibby walked the batter on five pitches to let Pinder walk across home plate. After a Kwik-Trip trip to the mound, Gibson got Jed Lowrie to hit into a GIDP that scored another run. He finally did manage to get out of the inning but the damage was done. 4-0 A’s.

The Twins hit two solo homers to get on the board. One by Eddie Rosario to right center and the other by Danny Santana to center. 4-2 A’s.

Gibson managed to load up the bases again in the 4th but escaped without any more runs scoring, but that was the end of his day. Bottom half Rosario scored after a Chris Giminez fly ball to center field bounced off of Jaff Decker’s knee and ended up rolling in left field. 4-3 A’s.

Tyler Duffey came in in the 5th and promptly loaded the bases with a bunt and two walks and one out. Another Kwik-Trip trip to the mound and Adam Rosales hit a sac fly to score another run for the A’s. Byron Buxton made a catch and smacked into the wall to end the inning but left the game as a “precaution.” 5-3 A’s

Ryon Healy started off the 7th with a solo homer to left center field off of Craig Breslow. 6-3 A’s.

Ryan Pressly came in for the Twins and loaded up the bases again with a single and two walks (one intentional). After Healy got himself tossed arguing a called strike three, Vogt scored two more with a double to right. Michael Tonkin replaced Duffy and loaded ‘em up again but he got strike out to end the inning, but it was now 8-3 A’s.

Bottom of the 8th, Eduardo Escobar hit a dinger over the center field scoreboard ribbon with Jorge Polanco on first to bring the Twins back to within three.

The Twins made it exciting though. With bases loaded, a wild pitcher and Miguel Sano at the bat, the Twins had a really good chance to win this one too.

Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,

The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;

And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,

But there is no joy in Twinkle Town—mighty Miggy has struck out.

Notes:

• A’s left 13 runners stranded
• Rosario kept his hitting streak alive, now at 14 games
• Sano earned another golden sombrero with 4 strikeouts
• Twins 4 game winning streak comes to an end
• Gibson sent to AAA after the game
• Buxton is “banged up” per Molitor but cleared concussion protocols

W: Cotton (3-3) 6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 K

L: Gibson (0-4) 4.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

SV: Casilla (5)

Studs:

Santana, Rosario and Escobar all with HRs

Duds:

Gibson, look at that line, woof.

Sano, 0-4, 4 K

Vargas, 0-4, 2 K

Twins bullpen, you had one job...

Gamethread jinxers, you know who you are.

ROBOT ROLL CALL!