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Today’s lineups:
MIN: Mitch Garver C, Luis Arraez 2B, Jorge Polanco SS, Miguel Sano 1B, Josh Donaldson 3B, Max Kepler RF, Nelson Cruz DH, Eddie Rosario LF, Byron Buxton CF, Randy Dobnak P
BAL: Denard Span LF, Anthony Santander RF, Trey Mancini DH, Rio Ruiz 3B, Renato Nunez 1B, Cedric Mullens CF, Hanser Alberto 2B, Jose Iglesias SS, Bryan Holaday C, John Means P
It was the Renato Nunez show today in Baltimore. He does not play for the Twins, so there ya go.
Nunez drove in the last four runs of the game, and pretty much single-handedly beat the Twins. He racked up a total of five RBIs on three hits. And he’s hitting .194 AFTER doing so, which is just ridiculous.
Things started out so well for the Twins though. Jorge Polanco cracked a homer in the first inning to stake an early 1-0 lead for the good guys and Randy Dobnak mowed down the O’s in order.
In the second, the Twins added to their tally. Josh Donaldson reached on a lead off single. He went to third on a E2 that also put Nelson Cruz on first. Eddie Rosario picked up an RBI with a sac fly that scored Donaldson.
Nunez’ first RBI of the game for Baltimore was also their first run. Rio Ruiz hit a double, and then scored on Nunez’ single in the second. In the third, Baltimore took the lead. Bryan Holaday singled, and then Denard Span continued to break Minnesotan hearts by hitting a two-run home run.
Jorge Polanco tied the game back up in the fifth. He hit his second home run of the game to make the score 3-3. If a couple things had gone differently, Polanco would have been my lead story.
The Twins looked to have broken the game open in the seventh. Miguel Castro entered the game with two outs, and walked Mitch Garver. Luis Arraez hit a single, and then both men scored on a double by Jorge Polanco. I told you he would have been the story. Polanco switched places with Miguel Sano a couple pitches later, and the Twins held a three run lead.
Randy Dobnak exited in the seventh as well, leaving one out and a man on first for Trevor May. A stolen base and a single later, and the inherited runner scored.
May walked Mancini to open the eighth inning, and a couple batters later, Caleb Thielbar came on to face Renato Nunez. I’m not sure why, given that Thielbar has a wicked reverse-split, and the next few batters were mostly righties (one switch hitter in there,) and also that Thielbar pitched yesterday, while several guys in the pen are well-rested. I digress though. Nunez hit a two-run stupid home run, tied the game. Thielbar put two more runners on before Matt Wisler (who should have been in to start with) came on to end the suffering. Wisler also got through the ninth in order.
In the tenth, Taylor Rogers came on. He walked Rio Ruiz to start the inning. Then Renato Nunez came back up. Maybe we shouldn’t let him face our leftie relievers? Nunez hit one to the same freaking section of the park, and walked off Rogers.
Notes
- Man, Jorge Polanco really deserved the team to get him a win, I mean really.
- I’m thinking of trying to find some pitching help on the trade market, something has to change, and my injured guys won’t be back for awhile. What do you think? Let me know in the comments. I could trade MiLB guys, or potentially put Alex Avila or Marwin Gonzalez (who is mad he isn’t a starter in the game???) on the block
STUDS:
Jorge Polanco: 3-4, 4 RBI, 3 runs scored
DUDS:
Nelson Cruz: 0-4
Caleb Thielbar: .1IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 HR, blown save
Taylor Rogers: 0IP (two batters faced,) BB, HR, 2 ER
Tomorrow: One more in Baltimore, first pitch at 6:05