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Today’s lineups:
MIN: Max Kepler RF, Ehire Adrianza 2B, Jorge Polanco SS, Miguel Sano 1B, Eddie Rosario LF, Josh Donaldson 3B, Mitch Garver C, Nelson Cruz DH, Byron Buxton CF, Bailey Ober P
TBR: Randy Arozarena LF, Kevin Kiermaier CF, Austin Meadows RF, Brandon Lowe 2B, Yandy Diaz 3B, Ji-man Choi 1B, Yoshitomo Tsutsugo DH, Willy Adames SS, Mike Zunino C, Tyler Glasnow P
Bailey Ober was assigned a tough task, and was not up to it. You can’t blame him, that is a tough group of left-handed hitters for any righty, let alone a guy making his MLB debut. The Twins bats kept them in things though, and a ninth inning rally fell just short.
With two out already in the first inning, Ober gave up a single to Austin Meadows, then hung a slider that got absolutely annihilated by Brandon Lowe for a two run home run.
The Twins did something similar in the bottom of the second, evening the score against Tyler Glasnow. Josh Donaldson drew a walk, and Nelson Cruz shook off his long slump to hit a two-run bomba that tied the game.
Ober got in trouble in the top of the third though, and allowed another three runs. Kevin Keirmaier hit a single, and Austin Meadows was hit by a pitch. Brandon Lowe then came up, and added to his RBI total for the game with a run-scoring double. A ground ball moved another run in, and a single brought in one more. Matt Wisler stopped the bleeding.
The Twins narrowed the gap slightly in their half of the third. Max Kepler hit a lead off triple, and a 6-3 grounder by Adrianza was enough for Kepler to score. The tally would remain 5-3 unti the top of the fifth, when Lowe came up again, this time facing Matt Wisler. Wisler surrendered a solo home run, which completed Tampa’s scoring for the evening.
The Twins would match that output in their half of the inning, with Max Kepler scoring again. He, Adrianza, and Jorge Polanco all drew free passes to load the bases for Miguel Sano. Sano didn’t have any magic in his bat, and grounded into a bases-loaded double play, but it did allow Kepler to scamper home.
Nelson Cruz started the ninth by going boomstick, and hit a solo home run. Ehire Adrianza singled, but no one else could score.
Notes
- After the game, Ober was sent back to Rochester, and Michael Pineda was activated. Big Mike will start the third game of this series.
- Normally I’d call a pitcher with those stats a dud, but I’m not going to do that a guy in his debut.
- We really need to win some games, the Sox tied the division.
STUDS:
Ehire Adrianza: 3-4, RBI
Nelson Cruz: 3-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
DUDS:
Jorge Polanco: 0-4, K, 3 LOB
Eddie Rosario: 0-4, 4 K, 2 LOB
Miguel Sano: 0-3, BB, 2 K, 4 LOB
Tomorrow: Tampa again. First pitch 7:10 pm (look for a recap around 11 pm)