Oakland 3, Twins 1: ...and the injury bug makes an appearance (simulated)

Today’s lineups:

MIN: Garver C, Polanco SS, Kepler RF, Cruz DH, Rosario LF, Donaldson 3B, Sano 1B, Buxton CF, Adrianza 2B, Bailey P

OAK: Semien SS, Laureano CF, Olson 1B, Chapman 3B, Canha LF, Davis DH, Pinder 2B, Grossman RF, Allen C, Luzardo P

Byron Buxton left the game in the bottom of the first inning and was replaced by Jake Cave. That happened on the second batter of the game—and the Twins were already down. Marcus Semien went all Jacque Jones on Homer Bailey, and started the game with a solo home run. Ramon Laureano was up second, and hit a line drive to shallow centerfield. Buxton laid out and made the catch, but strained an intercostal muscle in the process, and had to leave the game. Not only that, he’ll be out about a week, so yay! Still, relatively low on the Buxton-injury scale.

Bailey gave up two more runs in the top of the third, another solo dinger by Austin Adams, and a RBI double by Matt Olson. Overall the Twins pitching was pretty good today, those were the only three runs they gave up.

The Twins offense finally showed a bit of life in the fifth, Miguel Sano hit a double, and then scored on a single by Jake Cave. Maybe the simulated Twins won’t miss simulated Buxton this week? I don’t count on it though. That was all the Twins offense managed to do today, at any rate.

Notes

• 3:19 for the time of game. Another long one.
• It was literally freezing out, with a gametime temp of 31. Almost 32,000 Minnesotans showed up to watch the boys of summer play in wintery weather though.
• With Buxton likely to only miss a week, don’t expect to see a call-up to the roster. If it was a bit longer, Willians Astudillo would be on a plane.
• We have a contest to win a copy of OOTP, if you want your own sim Twins squad.

STUDS:

Tyler Duffey: 2IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 3 Ks
Jake Cave: 1 hit, 1 RBI

DUDS:

Josh Donaldson: 0-4 2Ks
Jake Cave: 1-4, 3Ks

Tomorrow: Division rivalry game, Cleveland visits. First Pitch is 1:10 Central (look for the recap around five pm.)

SIM TWINS: 6-4, 1¹⁄₂ game behind Chicago and ¹⁄₂ game behind Detroit.