Twins 6, Tigers 0: Hot offense for hotter Odorizzi

How smokin’ is the Twins’ offense right now? Twice, with the bases loaded and one out, they’d fail to get a hit. Didn’t matter. Six runs is enough when Jake Odorizzi doesn’t allow any. (One would be, in truth, but more is better.)

Both LOBs were pretty weird, actually. In the fourth inning, Jorge Polanco came up with the bases loaded, and smacked a double down the left-field line which should have cleared the bases. Rounding second, Max Kepler sorta bumped into Tigers second baseman Harold Castro, which slowed him down, and interference obstruction was not called. Nelson Cruz walked, and Eddie Rosario hit into a 3-2 DP. (Thanks for the corrections to this paragraph by Flip27 and Joeyself.)

The home sixth would start with this frightening collision at first base. Marwin Gonzalez hit a comebacker that bounced off Detroit starter Tyson Ross. Ross grabbed it, threw high, and former Twin Niko Goodrum leapt up to try and catch it. Goodrum’s knee and foot collided with Gonzalez’s face; both players would have to leave the game. Gonzalez suffered a “facial contusion,” which is medical-ese for “bad bruise.” He’s day-to-day. Mitch Garver, Byron Buxton, and Polanco then all drew walks, so Minnesota at least got one run from the mess.

How smokin’ is Odorizzi right now? As Do-Hyong Park noted, he hasn’t allowed a run since April 22. Granted, Detroit’s dead last in the AL in runs scored, but seven innings pitched with one hit and no walks is still pretty darn impressive.

Several fun highlights in this one. Garver stroked his eighth dong of the season into the second deck. Kepler bounced his eighth off the flower pots in right an inning later. But the best goes to Buxton for that catch you see above. Not only did he record the out, he managed to land on his feet as well. I think he’s better this year at jumping into walls without smushing himself.

Comments of the gamethread go to Asthix for pointing out that Odorizzi has only allowed five extra-base hits all year, and Badger1stSergeant’s observation that “Kepler must hate potted plants; he just killed a bunch of them.” Robot Roll Call:

Rain makeup tomorrow, so there’s games at 1:10 and 7:10. Martin Perez is on the paternity list, and Kohl Stewart is taking his place, so the Twins will still be able to add a 26th man for the doubleheader. Catch you then, and thanks to everybody who joined us for this one!