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Today’s lineups:
MIN: Kepler RF, Polanco SS, Cruz DH, Sano 1B, Rosario LF, Donaldson 3B, Garver C, Arraez 2B, Buxton CF, Odorizzi P
BOS: Peraza 2B, Martinez DH, Devers 3B, Bogarts SS, Verugo RF, Benintendi LF, Bradley Jr CF, Vazquez C, Moreland 1B, Eovaldi, P
Note: Due to technical difficulties (aka TJ being a moron,) the last two games got disappeared into the ether. When I re-simulated them, it turned into a split instead of two wins, and may have slightly tweaked the counting stats. Sorry!
Josh Donaldson got on base twice. He took two walks, and was the only Twin issued a free pass. Miguel Sano got on base twice. Nobody else did for Minnesota.
Jake Odorizzi gave up all four runs—three earned—in 5.1 innings tonight. Most nights, that would be enough for a Minnesota starter to earn a win, not a loss. Tonight was not one of those nights.
He gave up the first run in the top of the second. Xander Bogaerts lead off with a single and tried to come home on Andrew Benintendi’s double to left. Eddie Rosario has a cannon though, and Bogaerts learned that the hard way, being thrown out at the plate. Unfortunately, Benintendi came home on a double by the next batter, Jackie Bradley Jr.
The top of the third cost Odorizzi another run. Mitch Moreland lead off with a double to right. Jose Peraza moved him over with a 6-3 ground ball. J.D. Martinez hit one to pretty much the exact same place, trading the second out for a run.
The Twins tied the game in the fourth frame. Nelson Cruz and Sano strung together singles to begin the inning, then Donaldson took a walk and loaded the bases. Mitch Garver brought the two lead runners in with a single on the right side of the field.
In the top of the sixth, Odorizzi put runners on the corners, coming via a Bogaerts double and then an error. With Alex Vergdugo at bat, the ball was hit to Sano’s left, and as the Twins first baseman went to defend, Odorizzi was tasked with covering first. Basic “pitcher’s-fielding-practice play” but Odorizzi was unable to hang onto Sano’s toss, and it would cost him. Odorizzi caught Benintendi looking then yielded to Zack Littell. Littell let both inherited runners score, although the second really falls upon Garver. Bradley brought Bogaerts in for the first run and put Verdugo on third. Mitch Moreland struck out swinging, and should have been the third out, but the ball squirted past Garver, Moreland astutely scampered to first, and Verdugo came home for a twice-unearned run.
The Twins bullpen held it together after that, but so did Boston’s.
Notes
- Three of the Twin’s six hits came in the fourth inning.
- Sean Poppen finally got into a game, pitching the ninth.
STUDS:
Miguel Sano: 2-4
DUDS:
Kepler, Polanco, Rosario: 0-12 (each 0-4)
Mitch Garver: for the passed ball
Tomorrow: Boston Red Sox. First pitch 1:10 pm (look for the recap around 4 pm)