Twins 5, Cleveland 4: Sell everyone, and then beat Cleveland

Ervin Santana made his second start for the Twins this season. He wasn’t great, but he was good enough. Santana got one out into the sixth inning. During that time frame he gave up four runs. His offense was kind enough to also score runs, and big Erv walks away with a no-decision. The worrisome note is that Santana gave up three dingers.

Meanwhile for Cleveland, Shane “Not Justin” Bieber went an inning longer, and as I mentioned, also gave up four runs.

Cleveland got on the board first with one of those three dongs. Jose Ramirez stroked one to right field.

The Twins got it back and then some in the second. Brian Dozier, in possibly his last game as a Twin, made it to first on a fielding error. Max Kepler then moved him over with a single, and Robbie Grossman tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Miguel Sano finally hit a baseball, and drove in the go-ahead run in the second.

Jose Ramirez got to Santana again in the fourth, with another solo shot. He is now tied for the MLB lead. This one also left over the right field wall. Cleveland took the lead in the fifth with their third home run of the night, this one by Yan Gomes.

The Twins must have been feeling resiliant tonight, because they bounce back to retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Miguel Sano started things off again, with a ground ball single. Must have been a very slow-rolling grounder. Mitch Garver added another single, and Joe Mauer walked to load the bases. Then we went on down to Polancoville, as the Twin’s short stop hit a sharp single to score both Sano and Garver.

In the sixth, Jose Ramirez started things off with another big fly off Santana. This one stayed in the park, and was caught by Jake Cave for an out. Thank goodness. Santana would go on to hit Edwin Encarnacion, and then give up an RBI double to Yonder Alonso, which ended the night for the Twin’s starter.

Gabriel Moya, Trevor Hildenberger, Taylor Rogers, Matt Magill, and Fernando Rodney combined to shut down Cleveland’s offense. It wasn’t without drama, however. Rogers put two men on, while only notching one out in the eighth. Matt Magill got him out of that one. The Fernando Rodney Experience also came into play. Rodney walked two batters during the ninth before escaping.

Cleveland’s pitching held strong into the ninth, but ultimately faltered. Miguel Sano kept his good day going with a walk, and was replaced on the base paths by Ehire Adrianza. Jake Cave moved Adrianza over with a sac bunt, and then came the heroics. Mitch Garver kept his hot bat going with a double to walk off Cleveland.

STUDS

Miguel Sano: 2-3, BB, RBI, Double

Mitch Garver: 2-4, RBI, WALK OFF Double

Jorge Polanco: 1-4, 2RBI

DUDS

Me, for posting the game thread late

Roll Call

COTG

Brandon Brooks, explaining certain anatomical facts to SooFoo:

It should be coming out the front