Rangers 4, Twins 1: Another extra innings game

Kyle Gibson started the game for the Twins, but the plan today was to mostly use the bullpen. This is, after all, the last game before the All-Star break, so it makes sense. Gibson tossed 1 inning, giving up a walk and a single, but no runs.

The Twins got their first run, on a triple by Byron Buxton, driving in Miguel Sano. The Rangers tied the game in the 4th, after Joey Gallo (who doubled) was driven in by former Twin Danny Santana, against current Twins Devin Smeltzer.

The Twins had a good chance to score again in the 4th inning. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out, Max Kepler flew out to center field. Before the runner at 3rd could score, however, Buxton was thrown out at 3rd base for the final out. It took a great throw by Joey Gallo, but that should have been the Twins second run. Maybe the Twins would have won this game if Buxton stays at 2nd.

After Smeltzer pitched most of the middle portion of this game, Ryne Harper was brought in to finish off the 6th. He did so by getting Asdrubal Cabrera to strikeout and then Joey Gallo was thrown out.

In the 8th, Zack Littell entered the game after a delay, as HP umpire Gerry Davis left the game , probably due to the heat. It took awhile, but Littell pitched a scoreless 8th inning. Trevor May was called on to pitch the 9th, and he too tossed a clean inning.

May followed his performance in the 9th by working around a couple of singles in the 10th to keep the game tied at 1.

The Twins lineup had a lot of problems getting hits against the Rangers pitching today. They did nothing in the 9th inning, sending us to extra innings again.

In the bottom of the 10th, Max Kepler hit a 1-out single. Jorge Polanco lined one right to first base, off the glove of Ronald Guzman as he reached 1st. Cruz hit a deep fly ball, advancing Jake Cave (pinch running for Kepler) to 3rd base. Garver popped out to end the threat.

Adalberto Mejia entered for the 11th inning, and walked two men with 1 out. Then Rougned Odor broke the game open with a 3-run blast to left-center field. Matt Magill finished up the inning, but the damage was done, and the Twins couldn’t recover in the bottom half.

The Twins miss sweeping the Rangers, but do take a series win into the break. They fall to 56-33, and 5.5 games ahead of the surging Cleveland squad. It was a great first half, let’s hope the Twins can have an even better 2nd half.

Studs:

Mitch Garver (2-5)

Miguel Sano (2-4)

Devin Smeltzer (4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 K, 1 BB, 1 R)

Ryne Harper (1.2 IP, 4 K)

Duds:

Byron Buxton

Marwin Gonzalez (0-5, 4 LOB)

Robot Roll Call: