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Today’s lineups:
MIN: Kepler RF, Polanco SS, Arraez 2B, Cruz DH, Sano 1B, Gonzalez 3B, Cave LF, Avila C, Buxton CF, Berrios P
SEA: Smith CF, Crawford SS, Long 2B, Vogelbach DH, Murphy C, Seager 3B, Nola 1B C. Gonzalez RF, Moore LF, Swanson P
Jose Berrios could have had a very bad night. Instead, he just kept wiggling out of jams until things finally went his way.
Berrios escaped the first after a walk and a single put men on the corners with no outs. The second was only slightly easier for him, as a pair of singles put two on again.
Fortunately, a little run support came in the bottom of the second. Nelson Cruz hit a lead-off solo shot to get his pitcher a one-to-nothing lead.
Jose Berrios nearly escaped the third unscathed as well. Shed Long hit a one-out double, then Berrios walked two men to load ‘em up. The only run to score was on a sac fly by Kyle Seager to center field, and the Twins still didn’t trail.
Buxton single, Kepler walk, Polanco fielder’s choice at two. That was the set up for Luis Arraez in the bottom of the third. The sophomore second-sacker drove in two runs on the first pitch he saw. He doubled into right center. Two more runs were added in the bottom fourth—but before then, Berrios finally worked a 1-2-3 inning.
Miguel Sano lead off the the fourth with his second triple in as many games. He came home on a sacrifice fly by Marwin Gonzalez. Jake Cave made the second out, bringing Alex Avila to the plate. Alex Avila and his .167 batting average. Avila made the most of things though, and became the little bomba brother we all totally knew he could be. A 382-footer and the Twins took a 5-1 lead.
Berrios allowed a single in the fifth, but that wasn’t so bad either. Max Kepler joined the Bomba party in the home half anyway, and his was a no-doubter. It went 425 feet as a line drive.
Matt Wisler came in in the sixth, and had a much nicer time than Berrios, getting six-out-of-seven batters he faced. In the bottom of the seventh, Seattle brought in Jhoulys Chacin—oh yeah, he signed with the Mariners after I DFA’d him. I did offer him a MiLB deal though. Anyway, Max Kepler didn’t think one homer was enough, so he hit another to lead off the seventh. That’s how we got to a final score of 7-1. Makes me not regret moving on at least.
Notes
- Jorge Polanco tried for a bunt hit in the first. He succeeded.
- Sean Poppen finally got into a game, pitching the ninth.
STUDS:
Max Kepler: 2-3, BB, 2 HR
Alex Avila: 1-2. BB, HR
DUDS:
No duds, Twins win!
Tomorrow: Barely-punished cheaters, the Boston Red Sox come to town. First pitch 7:10 pm (look for the recap around 11 pm)