Minnesota Twins 5, Milwaukee Brewers 6: Good Gibby, Sorry Sergio

After the thrilling win yesterday, the Twins started off the game today with a bang. As the Youtube broadcast crew were explaining to the national audience how the “Bomba Squad” nickname came to be, Mitch Garver put some sauce on a leadoff oppo taco. Later in the first, Eddie Rosario launched another bomba into the bullpen. But there were more runs to come.

Not be outdone, the Brewers answered back in the bottom of the first. Kyle Gibson allowed one run and needed a double play to get out of a bases-loaded jam. He gave up two hits and a walk, and the Jorge Polanco had an error, but they were able to escape with minimal damage.

The second was largely uneventful, although Gibby did need to pitch around a leadoff double. Miguel Sano deposited a solo shot into the “check deck” deep over the bullpen to tack on another for the Twins, but the Brewers again answered right back. This time, they piranha’ed their way to one run on three singles before Gibson again escaped trouble.

The Twins were able to chase Brewers starter Gio Gonzalez in the top of the 4th after he walked two (including Kyle Gibson) and Jonathan Schoop (!) doubled. With the bases loaded and two out, Jorge Polanco provided the sought-after bases-loaded hit, driving in two and chasing Gonzalez.

The Brewers would get one back in another small-ball effort in the bottom of the fifth, and Gibson would exit after getting out of yet another jam. The Twins decided at this point that they had scored enough runs for their notably rock-solid bullpen, and did not score any more runs (even after Ehire Adrianza hit a pinch-hit leadoff triple in the 6th).

Sam Dyson and Trevor May were able to pitch fairly clean innings in the 6th and 7th, giving up one hit and one walk, respectively. In the 8th, Sergio Romo entered to pitch for the second day in a row, and bad things happened. Polanco’s second error of the game put the leadoff hitter on base, and after a single by the next batter, Trent Grisham launched a no-doubter into the right field seats to take the lead.

Down 6-5 in the ninth, the Twins managed to get into a dreaded bases-loaded situation, and this time C.J. Cron flew out to end the threat. Ballgame.

Twins 5, Brewers 6

W: Guerra (6-3)

L: Romo (2-1)

SV: Albers (4)

Notes

• Cleveland dropped another game to the Red Sox today, so the division lead remains at ¹⁄₂ game for the Twins.
• The Twins split the season series with the Brewers this year after going 1-5 last year.

Studs

• Miguel Sano: 1-4, HR, BB
• Eddie Rosario: 1-4, HR, BB

Meh

• Kyle Gibson: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• Jorge Polanco: 1-4, 2 RBI, BB, 2 E
• Mitch Garver: 1-5, HR

Duds

• Marwin Gonzalez: 0-4, 3 K’s
• Sergio Romo: 0.2 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, K

The Twins try to bounce back tomorrow against the Rangers in Arlington.

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