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Today’s lineups:
MIN: Garver C, Polanco SS, Kepler RF, Cruz DH, Rosario LF, Sano 1B, Gonzalez 3B, Arraez 2B, Buxton CF, Bailey P
SEA: Smith LF, Crawford SS, Long 2B, Vogelbach DH, Murphy C, Seager 3B, Nola 1B C. Gonzalez RF, Bishop CF, M. Gonzalez P
Josh Donaldson is day-to-day with a finger blister. Not what you want to see. There are three men on the 26-man roster that can play a capable third base though, so we won’t worry too much about roster moves. Besides, he’ll be back after a couple days, and is healthy enough to hit off the bench if we need him.
Homer Bailey and Marco Gonzalez were the starting pitchers in this game. Both were adequate, but neither really mattered. Both starters pitched into, but not through, the sixth inning. Both starters gave up two runs while racking up a bunch of strikeouts. Both bullpens saw blown saves become a factor.
Bailey gave the Ms an early lead. Lead off batter Mallex Smith was hit by the first pitch of the game, and was replaced by Dylan Moore. Moore stole second uncontested, and then scored on a double by Shed Long Jr. Seattle picked up a two-nothing lead in the third, on pretty much the exact same scenario. This time Moore took first on a walk and second on a groundball by J.P. Crawford before Long brought him in again, with another double, to pretty much the exact same part of the field—deep between Buxton and Rosario.
Seattle kept the lead until the sixth inning. Max Kepler’s one-out walk put a man on first, and Nelson Cruz singled to put two on. An Eddie Rosario fielder’s choice at second meant the Twins corner outfielders were standing on opposite corners of the infield. Then Miguel Sano came up. After fighting off four foul balls and working the count full, Sano destroyed a big flyball to left field for a triple that brought both runners home and tied the game.
The Twins would turn the tables and take a two-run lead in the seventh, as Luis Arraez, Mitch Garver, Jorge Polanco, and Kepler would each single. Seattle used three pitchers to get through the inning, and Sam Tuivalilala didn’t get a single out despite facing the new minimum of three batters.
Trevor May and Tyler Duffey held Seattle through the seventh and eighth innings, but Taylor Rogers was unable to do so, and blew the save. Rogers gave up walks, which will haunt, to the first and third batter of the ninth. Eric Kratz, pinch hitting for Carlos Gonzalez, hit a single that brought them both in, and took the game to extras.
Since the Twins couldn’t do anything in the bottom of the ninth, Matt Wisler entered the game in the tenth. He gave up a solo home run to the first batter he faced, Dylan Moore (again.) After that he got three straight outs, but the Twins would need some heroics in their half of the inning. From the title, you can safely assume they got said heroics.
Facing former Twin Matt Magill, Max Kepler drew a leadoff walk. Nelson Cruz hit a flyout, to bring up Eddie Rosario with one-on-and-one-out. It didn’t take long for Rosie to light the fireworks. As both teams swapped tenth-inning home runs, Rosario’s was worth more, and resulted in a walkoff victory for the Twins and a gatorade shower for their left fielder.
Notes
- Josh Donaldson pinch-hit for Buxton in the ninth, and Jake Cave replaced him defensively in the tenth.
- It was only 38 degrees at game time, and the temperature dropped as it got later, so its a bit surprising to see two late homers.
- Three of the AL’s top four teams are currently in the central division, as Seattle and Cleveland share a third-place record of 14-12.
STUDS:
Eddie Rosario: 3-5, HR, 2 RBI
Miguel Sano: 2-4, Triple, 2 RBI
DUDS:
No duds, Twins win!
Tomorrow: Game four against the Mariners, gametime 12:10 (look for the recap around 4pm)