Every Twin’s biggest bomba of 2019

The 2019 Twins hit many. many home runs, but some stood out more than others. Here is the biggest bomba for every member of the Bomba Squad.

Nelson Cruz - His 400th career bomba

September 19 vs Royals

Nelson Cruz has hit many a bomba in his long big league career, but his 400th of those came against the Royals. It was a three-run, game-tying blast, and he later would add on his 401st, which served as insurance. He has the 57th most in MLB history, and the 4th most among active players. Next season, he will be in striking distance of all-time greats such as Carlos Beltran and Cal Ripken Jr.

Max Kepler - Fifth straight bomba off Trevor Bauer

July 13 vs Indians

On June 6th, the Twins played the Indians. Max Kepler hit three home runs off Cleveland starting pitcher Trevor Bauer in three at-bats against the righty. On July 13th, Trevor Bauer was pitching against the Twins for the first time since Kepler’s three-homer performance. In the first and second inning, Kepler hit two more bombas off Bauer, making it 5 straight—a MLB record! It was just another home run record for a record-breaking team.

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Miguel Sano - Walk-off bomba vs Braves

August 5 vs Braves

This was a hard choice, and I was down to this and the go-ahead grand slam in Cleveland, but I decided on the walk-off, as it was a bit more memorable (to me at least.) It was funny to me that it was far enough that Ronald Acuna Jr that the Braves center fielder didn’t even look, he just ran in to the dugout. Not to mention that Sano entered the game as a pinch-hitter.

Eddie Rosario - Pinch-hit, go-ahead bomba

July 18 vs Athletics

This may be, arguably, the most memorable bomba of the year. Pinch-hitting for Jake Cave, Eddie hit one that got Target Field absolutely on its feet. I thought it was his biggest because it came when they were down 3-1, and it absolutely and completely flipped the switch. Even though they ended up hitting two more, it changed the game, which is what Eddie does best.

Mitch Garver: Record-breaking bomba number 268

August 31 vs Tigers

The Twins were already out of this game, but they decided to make it one to remember. After falling into an 8-2 deficit, the Twins just kept hitting bombas. Garver eventually hit the record-breaker, and even though the Twins had a heated battle with the Yankees to ultimately become the Bomba kings, this was still the record-breaker.

CJ Cron: Game-tying bomba against Detroit

May 11 vs Tigers

All right, look, I might be a bit biased on this one since I was there, but it was still one of his biggest. The place erupted. The Tigers still won the game, but it was still maybe the loudest I’ve heard the place. Not to be hard on Cron or anything, but he didn’t place his Bombas very well (which might be the reason that remembering this was hard).

Jonathan Schoop: Go-ahead bomba vs Rangers

August 16 vs Rangers

On August 16, Jonathan Schoop hit one over the Globe Life Park out-of-town scoreboard, erasing a one-run deficit and making the score 4-3. Earlier in the season, Jonathan Schoop was dubbed “King of the Garbage Time Bomba”, but he definitely got more clutch as the season went on. On this one, he connected, depositing a Mike Minor changeup in the first row.

Jorge Polanco: Two run bomba vs Cleveland, only score of game

September 14 (Game 1) vs Indians

In the third inning of this one, Polanco connected with one and put the Twins up 2-0. The conveniently placed hit came right after a base hit from Kepler. Meanwhile, Mike Clevinger and the Twins’ bullpen were locked in a pitcher’s duel. The score actually held, and the combination of Devin Smeltzer, Zack Littell, Tyler Duffey, Sergio Romo, and Taylor Rogers walked out with a shutout.

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Marwin Gonzalez: Game-winning bomba vs Milwaukee

August 13 vs Brewers

After watching a Yasmani Grandal go-ahead home run land in the Twins’ Bullpen at Miller Park, making the score 5-4, Marwin Gonzalez came up in the 8th inning and hit one into the Brewers’ bullpen. It was definitely one of the most electrifying moment of the season for the Twins, and it came in the better part of the pennant race as well. What a great moment.

Jason Castro: Two-run, game-winning home run vs Anaheim

May 15 vs Angels

Jason Castro’s May 15 homer might have seemed like an insurance run, since it made the score 8-3. But it was pretty significant, considering that Mike Morin struggled to get the job done in the ninth. The score ended up being 8-7 in favor of the Bomba Squad. He ended up having 10 homers in 79 games.

Byron Buxton: Grand slam + bomba cycle in Seattle

May 18 vs Mariners

In this one, Wade LeBlanc was making his first start off of the injured list, and the Twins teed off on him and managed to hit for the home run cycle. Byron Buxton made it 5-0 by hitting a line drive grand slam into the Mariners’ bullpen. Also, Miguel Sano hit his first of the year. The good guys ended up winning 18-4, a defining moment for the Bomba Squad.

Jake Cave- Two-run insurance bomba on Players Weekend

August 24 vs Tigers

Cave was a big part of our success this year, especially on Players’ Weekend. With “Caveman” on the back of his uniform, Cave was very good. On Saturday of Players’ Weekend, it was 6-5, and Cave hit a two-run homer, making it 8-5. Also, again, this might be biased because I attended the game, but still.

Ehire Adrianza: Bomba off Verlander, only run of game

April 29 vs Astros

On April 29th, Ehire Adrianza hit a solo home run against one of many Houston aces, Justin Verlander. That was the only dent in Verlander’s gem. Jake Odorizzi was also pitching a gem, so Adrianza’s bomba turned out to be the only run of the game.

Luis Arraez: Go-Ahead bomba in 7th in Detroit

September 25 vs Tigers

Arraez has not hit very many bombas, but when he does hit them, they are usually very meaningful. Take September 25 for example. At the start of the game, the team’s magic number was 2. We were losing our game 1-0, and with a man on, Arraez crushed a Drew VerHagen slider into the seats in right field. We ended up winning the game, and the Indians lost, so we clinched our first division title since 2010.

Willians Astudillo: Second of back-to-back bombas

April 6 vs Phillies

In an early-season interleague series at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies, our very own Willians Astudillo was in the starting lineup. After a run-scoring wild pitch and a Max Kepler bomba, La Tortuga hit a Jake Arrieta slider into the seats down the right-field line. It was the first of an injury-shortened season for the turtle.

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LaMonte Wade: Game-tying first career Bomba

September 15 vs Indians

Wade was a decently big member of the Twins’ late season success. Even though he is not exactly a home run hitter, he hit two in the late stages of the season. This one came in a tie game against the Indians. Wade took Shane Bieber deep to dead center to break the tie. That is how you hit your first career bomba in style.

Ryan LaMarre: Two-run insurance bomba in Kansas City

September 27 vs Royals

LaMarre helped the Twins win a rain-shortened Game #100 in KC. He hit one to left center that was just short of the fountains. It was a two-run shot, and it put the team up 6-1. I like LaMarre, and especially last year, when he wore eye black, he looked like a criminal or something. Anyway, I am glad they brought him back.