:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66687229/1154154500.jpg.0.jpg)
Today’s lineups:
MIN: Kepler RF, Garver C, Sano 1B, Cave DH, Donaldson 3B, Gonzalez LF, Arraez 2B, Adrianza SS, Buxton CF, Jax P
SEA: Smith LF, Crawford SS, Long DH, Vogelbach 1B, Seager 3B, Gonzalez RF, Gordon 2B Bishop CF, Kratz C, Walker P
Surprise! Griffin Jax makes his MLB debut, leapfrogging left handers Devin Smeltzer and Lewis Thorpe. This is because I wasn’t smart enough to line up my triple-A rotation, so Smeltzer had just pitched a couple days ago, and Thorpe is day-to-day with a sore hamstring, in addition to having pitched recently. Jax wasn’t totally undeserving though. His first start for the Red Wings was a mess, but his most recent one went pretty well. Well enough at least, to let him get a cup of coffee. In order to make room for Jax on the roster, Zack Littell, who pitched a couple inning yesterday and was quite tired, was sent to Triple A. He’ll be back soon I’m sure.
Jax did his part tonight, although he’ll likely be sent down despite doing so. The young-right hander pitched 6.1 innings, eclipsing his mark in his two previous games at Rochester. He also gave up only one run, on five hits, three ‘Ks’ and a pair of walks.
Jax carried a perfect game into the top of the fourth before J.P Crawford broke it up with a single. The lone run he surrendered came in the fifth, as Kyle Seager hit a leadoff double, Carlos Gonzalez advanced him to third with a single, and then Dee Gordon hit a run-scoring GIDP.
While the 25-year old rookie was confounding Seattle, the Twins bats were roaring out of yesterday’s hibernation. Max Kepler led off the first with a single, and came home with Miguel Sano on the latter’s two-run blast to right-center.
The Twins put up three more runs in the third, another inning led off by Kepler, although he struck out this time. Mitch Garver hit an infield single though. He went to second on a balk and third on Sano’s second hit of the game, a single. Jake Cave blasted a double to the centerfield wall, to score Garver and move Sano to third. The catcher came in on a grounder by Donaldson, and then Cave scored on a Marwin Gonzalez double up the left-field line. Taijuan Walker’s night ended, as did the Twins scoring.
The Twins added more run support for Jax in the fourth. Buxton walked and stole second. The speedster then went home on a Mitch Garver single for one run on one hit the hard way.
The Twins last run of the night was in the the sixth inning. Ehire Adrianza got onboard with a single and stole second. Mitch Garver then kept his good night going, hitting a 3-2 double to score Adrianza.
Sergio Romo gave up a run that didnt really matter in the eighth, on two singles and a ground ball, to bring us to our final score.
Notes
- Mitch Garver continues to climb out of the hole he started the season in. His batting average is now .222 as he went 3-4.
- Eddie Rosario pinch-hit for Josh Donaldson in the eighth. In the ninth, the defensive alignment saw Rosario in left, Marwin Gonzalez take over first, and Sano move back to third base.
- Griffin Jax, man. I didn’t expect that performance.
- Seattle is proposing that we trade them Willians Astudillo for RHP Bryan Pall. That will not be happening.
STUDS:
Mitch Garver: 3-4, double, 2 RBI
Miguel Sano: 2-4. HR, 2 RBI
Jake Cave: 2-4, RBI
Griffin Jax: 6.1 IP, 1 run
DUDS:
No duds, Twins win!
Tomorrow: Game three of four, against the Mariners, gametime 6:40 (look for the recap around 10)