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Today’s lineups:
MIN: Max Kepler RF, Ehire Adrianza SS, Luis Arraez 2B, Miguel Sano 1B, Eddie Rosario LF, Nelson Cruz DH, Mitch Garver C, Marwin Gonzalez 3B, Byron Buxton CF, Jake Odorizzi P
KCR: Khalil Lee DH, Whit Merrifield 2B, Jorge Soler RF, Ryan O’Hearn 1B, Nicky Lopez SS, Brett Phillips CF, Alex Gordon LF, Maikel Franco 3B, Salvador Perez C, Jesse Hahn P
Wow, playing the Royals was like a sorely-needed shot in the arm for the Twins offense! Several Twins had big days at the plate, but none bigger than Ehire Adrianza. The Minnesota utilityman, playing short stop today, went 4-6, drove in two runs, and crossed the plate himself three times. Luis Arraez, Eddie Rosario, and Marwin Gonzalez also had strong showings at the dish. Jake Odorizzi threw a gem for the Twins today.
The Twins scored early and often, starting in the top of the second. Nelson Cruz took a walk and advanced to second on a single by Mitch Garver. Cruz went from second-to-home on a single by Gonzalez.
Ehire Adrianza lead off the third with a double. Eddie Rosario brought him home with another double. The fourth was the big inning though.
The Twins scored six runs in the fourth, and opened up the game. Nearly the entire rally came with two outs, as Garver started the inning with a flyout. Gonzalez walked, Byron Buxton hit a single, and Max Kepler put them both into scoring position on a groundball out.
Adrianza then had his biggest hit of the night—cranking a two-run double on the first pitch. Arraez reached on an E1, lining a scorching back up the middle that the pitcher couldn’t handle. Miguel Sano drawing a walk loaded the bases. Eddie Rosario hit a grounder to second, but Whit Merrifield commited KC’s second error of the inning, allowing two runs to score. This also ended the night for Jesse Hahn, and old friend Randy Rosario came on to pitch for the Royals.
Nelson Cruz, who has been in one of the deepest slumps on the team, broke through for the final two runs of the fourth, with an RBI single.
After a couple quiet innings, Adrianza led off the top of the sixth with his second double of the evening. He advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Luis Arraez drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Rosie’s RBI single brought home Adrianza, and Garver’s brought home Arraez.
The scoring continued in the seventh, with Max Kepler firing up the bomba machine, and hitting one to bring Twins’ total to 11. While all this was happening, Jake Odorizzi kept the Royals off the board, finally yielding to Matt Wisler with two out in the seventh.
In the ninth, the Twins added their last two runs. Max Kepler was hit by a pitch, and then scored on a double by Luis Arraez, who took third on the throw. Eddie Rosario, the RBI man tonight, brought Arraez home on a single.
Wisler loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning, on two walks and a single. One of the inherited runners scored against Caleb Thielbar, but overall, it didn’t really matter.
Notes
- Rich Hill is now eligible to come back from IL. He’s actually been listed as healthy for awhile, so will likely only need a short rehab assignment
- Thanks to that doubleheader on Tuesday, We need a spot start for tomorrow. Lewis Thorpe has been called up to make that start, and Willians Astudillo optioned back to Triple-A.
STUDS:
Ehire Adrianza: 4-6, 2 RBI, 3 doubles
Luis Arraez: 2-5, RBI, BB, double
Eddie Rosario: 3-6, 3 RBI, double
Marwin Gonzalez: 2-3, 2 BB, RBI, double
Jake Odorizzi: 6.2 IP, 0 runs, 4 hits, 5 K, 1 BB
DUDS:
No duds, Twins win!
Tomorrow: Game two at the Royals, first pitch at 3:05