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Today’s lineups:
MIN: Byron Buxton CF, Luis Arraez 2B, Josh Donaldson 3B, Miguel Sano 1B, Max Kepler RF, Nelson Cruz LF, Ehire Adrianza SS, Alex Avila C, Jose Berrios P
LAD: Justin Turner 3B, Max Muncy 1B, Cody Bellinger CF, Mookie Betts RF, Joc Pederson LF, Corey Seager SS, Will Smith C, Gavin Lux 2B, Julio Urias, P
Someone for the Twins needed to step up and end the losing streak. Its the kind of thing ace pitchers do, and tonight, its the role Jose Berrios stepped into.
On a warm, sunny, southern California night, Berrios stood astride the mound for seven-and-two-thirds innings, and gave up only three hits and a single run. This game was a true pitcher’s duel through most of the affair, despite the Twins running away with it at the end. The game was scoreless entering the seventh inning, although Ehire Adrianza cracked a sharp double to right field in the second with Nelson Cruz on base, but both men were left stranded.
Berrios carried the no-hitter into the bottom of the fourth, when he gave up a single to Cody Bellinger. Gavin Lux hit a line-drive triple to left in the fifth, and Corey Seager collected a double in the seventh. That was it for hits against Berrios tonight.
In the top of the seventh, the Twins finally broke through. Blake Treinen came on in relief of Julio Urias, and faced Max Kepler first. Kep shook off his recent cold streak in a big way, putting the Twins on the board with a bomba on a 3-2 pitch that traveled 398 feet. Treinen didn’t have his stuff tonight. Nelson Cruz walked. Ehire Adrianza hit a single, and Alex Avila took a four-pitch walk to load the bases for Jose Berrios.
Personally, I would have had Eddie Rosario or Jake Cave hit here, but the simulation made a different decision, and Berrios struck out. Byron Buxton delivered though. He hit a first-pitch double that scored Cruz and Adrianza. That ended Treinen’s night, and Adam Kolarek came in and induced a 6-3 groundball from Luis Arraez. Josh Donaldson brought in two more runners with a single to center, and took the score to 5-0.
Jose Berrios batted again in the top of the eighth inning, for some reason. He struck out looking for the third out. He started the bottom of the inning by striking out Gavin Lux, and then walking Chris Taylor. After he got Justin Turner to fly out, Matt Wisler came in to end the eighth. Wisler gave up two singles, the first by Max Muncy to put runners on the corners, and the second, by Cody Bellinger, to score the inherited runner. Muncy tried for third on the play though, and was gunned down by Byron Buxton for the third out.
Wisler got into a jam in the bottom of nine as well, giving up back-to-back no out singles to Mookie Betts and Joc Pederson that put runners on first and second, but Taylor Rogers picked up the next three outs and the save.
Notes
- The game snuck Cruz in as the starter in left, and I missed it when reviewing the line up, but I guess it didn’t work out as poorly as it could have.
- Jose Berrios left eight men on base tonight, including the only two left in scoring position. Tell me again why having pitchers hit is a good idea?
- Ehire Adrianza is red-hot lately. I guess my other infielders can keep getting days off?
STUDS:
Jose Berrios: 7.2 IP, 3 hits, 1 run
Byron Buxton: 1-5, 2 RBI
Josh Donaldson: 1-5, 2 RBI
Ehire Adrianza: 3-4
DUDS:
No Duds, Twins win!!!
Tomorrow: Off day again? This is an odd quirk. We stay in LA, and take on the Angels on Friday at 9:07pm (look for the recap around midnight)