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Today’s lineups:
MIN: Max Kepler RF, Jorge Polanco SS, Mitch Garver C, Miguel Sano 1B, Josh Donaldson 3B, Luis Arraez 2B, Nelson Cruz DH, Marwin Gonzalez LF, Byron Buxton CF, Kenta Maeda P
BAL: Cedric Mullins CF, Rio Ruiz 3B, Trey Mancini RF, Chance Sisco DH, Hanser Alberto 2B, Dwight Smith Jr LF, Jose Iglesias SS, Bryan Holaday C, Chris Davis 1B, Aaron Sanchez P
It wasn’t necessarily a glorious return to the line up for Kenta Maeda, but it was nice to see him throwing for the fake Twins anyway. He was okay, but thats all you have to be a lot of nights with this group playing behind you. He pitched 6.1 innings, gave up four runs on seven hits, and struck out seven.
Meanwhile, Aaron Sanchez went 4.1 innings for Baltimore, and they used a total of seven pitchers. Two guys were credited with blown saves, somehow.
Baltimore took the first lead of the game in the fourth inning. Trey Mancini took a leadoff walk. Chance Sisco hit a single, and then Hanser Alberto hit a two-bagger that scored Mancini and moved Sisco to third. Sisco would then score on a sac fly by Jose Iglesias.
Baltimore extended their lead to three in the fifth. Chris Davis and Mancini drew walks, then Davis scored on a double by Sisco.
The Twins tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Josh Donaldson led off with a double. Luis Arraez moved him to third with a grounder. Nelson Cruz then picked up the first RBI of the night for Minnesota with a single. A Marwin Gonzalez single put runners on the corners, as Cruz went first-to-third. Buxton walked to load the bases, and Kepler walked to bring in a run. On a Jorge Polanco single, Gonzalez scored and Buxton attempted to—but Buck was gunned down at the plate by Mancini. Still, the inning ended with the game tied.
Baltimore briefly broke the tie in the seventh, plating a run on a pair of singles and a sac fly, but Minnesota tied it back up in their half of the inning. Miguel Sano hit a triple, someway-somehow. Don’t ask me. Luis Arraez brought him in with a single to re-tie the game.
Finally, in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jorge Polanco gave the Twins their only lead of the game—but enough of a lead. He hit a one-out solo home run to left field to bring the score to its final form.
Notes
- Buxton picked up his sixth stolen base of the season.
- Sergio Romo got the win, Taylor Rogers the save. Trevor May also pitched 0.2 scoreless innings.
STUDS:
Jorge Polanco: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI
Nelson Cruz: 2-5, RBI
DUDS:
No Duds, Twins win!!!
Tomorrow: Game two versus Baltimore. First pitch is at 6:40 pm Central (Look for the recap around 10pm)