Twins 8, Angels 7: Hanging in there

I didn’t totally jinx Jake Odorizzi today, although his scoreless streak did end at 22 innings.

In the third inning, Tommy La Stella hit a big fly ball to right field, to put the Halos on the board and break Odorizzi’s nice little streak. The Twins had already scored two runs though, in the bottom of the second, when Ehire Adrianza (who has been really good against Cahill) hit a double that plated both Jonathan Schoop and C.J. Cron.

Byron Buxton provided some cushion to his pitcher in the fifth with his second dinger of the season, which also brought Jason Castro home and put the Twins up 4-1.

Odorizzi cruised through a couple innings before getting into a bit a more trouble. He gave up a single to Brian Goodwin and then a home run to Jonathan Lucroy, which brought the game within one. A David Fletcher single, a Jared Walsh single, and two mound visits would would end Odorizzi’s day after 6.1, and bring Trevor May in with runners on the corner. May induced two catchable balls in the air, and nothing fell, to escape without further damage.

The line for Odorizzi: 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 9 hits, 3K and 2BB. It wasn’t his prettiest outing of the year, but he got the W.

The bullpen tried hard to ruin Odorizzi’s work though. More specifically, Trevor Hildenberger, as most of the rest the relievers did not allow a run. May, Matt Magill, Ryne Harper, Blake Parker, Hildenberger, and Mike Morin all threw in this one—the Twins better hope their starters can get some length the next couple days.

The Twins had scored two runs on a Castro homer in the sixth, and been answered in the seventh with a sac fly RBI off of May by Goodwin, leaving the score at 8-4 when Hildenberger entered at the top of the ninth.

Hildy’s inning started mundanely enough, as he got his only out on a Andrelton Simmons ground out. Pesky Brian Goodwin would double, then be doubled in by Lucroy, who was in turn sent home by a Fletcher single. Mike Morin came in to face Jared Walsh. Morin induced a strikeout, allowed one inherited runner to score, and loaded the bases for Shohei Ohtani. Fortunately, Morin induced a groundout to short, and earned the save.

After the game, the Twins announced Hildenberger would be sent to Triple-A, with a corresponding move to be announced later.

Studs:

Ehire Adrianza: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, BB, Double

Jason Castro: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, HR, BB

Byron Buxton: 1-4, 2 RBI, HR, being Byron Buxton in the outfield

Duds:

No duds, Twins win!

But if there was a dud, Trevor Hildenberger and his 8.36 ERA would qualify.

COTG:

Uncle Lincoln:

Frustrated Haiku time:

I hate the Angels

I really hate the Angels

I hate the Angels

Roll Call: