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Today’s lineups:
MIN:
MIN: Max Kepler RF, Jorge Polanco SS, Luis Arraez 2B, Josh Donaldson 3B, Eddie Rosario LF, Mitch Garver C, Jake Cave DH, Ehire Adrianza 1B, Byron Buxton CF, Jose Berrios P
SF: Billy Hamilton CF, Brandon Belt 1B, Yasiel Puig RF, Mike Yastrzemski DH, Evan Longoria 3B, Austin Slater LF, Brandon Crawford SS, Yolmer Sanchez 2B, Rob Brantly C, Johnny Cueto P
Normally Jose Berrios’ even dozen strikeouts would be the story of the game, but not tonight. Tonight the Twins mashed taters like it was going out of style, as six different Twins slugged one out in six different innings. There are 5280 feet in a mile, which means a half-mile is 2640 feet. The Twins fell just shy of hitting a combined home run distance of that mark tonight, by about 120 feet.
The first inning was the only inning the Twins didn’t score, unless you want to count the ninth, but I don’t, since they didn’t bat. In the bottom of the second, Mitch Garver drew a one-out walk, bringing up Jake Cave. Cave fought off a few pitches, and took the second 2-2 ball he saw into the stands, a dong that traveled 455 feet with an exit velocity of 110 mph.
San Fran picked up a hit in the top of three, one of only five they would get off Berrios in his eight full innings. Minnesota got two hits, although only one of them mattered. With two outs, Luis Arraez cranked the second dinger of the night. His was a first-pitch fly ball to straightaway right field, for 392 feet. That takes us to a combined 847 feet.
Mitch Garver led off the bottom of four with his contribution to the bomba collective. This one was also a no-doubter, traveling 412 feet over the left-center wall. The team total is now 1259 feet.
In the fifth, the Twins scored again—but not via the longball. After Max Kepler led off with a single, Jorge Polanco struck out, and then Arraez picked up his second RBI of the night, this one with a double that brought Kepler all the way around the bases. Arraez’ double ended Cueto’s night and brought in Trevor Cahill.
The sixth was a two-run inning for the Twins, and should have been a three-run affair. Garver led it off with a double, and came home on a single by Ehire Adrianza. Adrianza was thrown out at second trying to stretch the hit into a double of his own though. The very next batter, Byron Buxton, picked up his second jack in as many nights, adding 404 feet to the team home run distance on a 3-2 flyball to left field. The total is now 1663 feet.
In the seventh, Jorge Polanco got things started by taking Cahill’s first pitch into the right-center stands on a big fly that traveled 459 feet. We’re now up to 2122 feet. Finally, in the bottom of the eighth, Max Kepler hit one. His was also a first pitch solo shot, although it occurred with two out. It flew 399 feet into left field, and took the total distance to 2521 feet. One more bomba would have easily eclipsed a half-mile, and even twenty more feet on the six they hit would have done it. Either way that is an impressive total.
Notes
- Berrios pitched eight full, scoreless innings. Matt Wisler took the ninth, although I’d have let Berrios try for the CGSO I think.
- Berrios ERA is now 3.62
- Eddie Rosario was the only Twin without a hit, the only Twin not to reach base, and the only Twin with two-or-more strikeouts tonight.
STUDS:
Mitch Garver: 2-3, HR, Double, RBI, 3 runs scored, walk.
Luis Arraez: 2-3. HR, Double, 2 RBI, run scored, walk.
Everyone else who hit a home run
Jose Berrios: 8 IP, 12 K, 0 ER, 1 walk
DUDS:
No Duds, Twins win!!!
Tomorrow: Giants try to avoid being swept by the Twins in a day-game that starts at 12:10 central. (Look for the recap around 6pm)