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Today’s lineups:
MIN: Max Kepler RF, Jorge Polanco SS, Luis Arraez 2B, Josh Donaldson 3B, Eddie Rosario LF, Mitch Garver C, Nelson Cruz DH, Marwin Gonzalez 1B, Byron Buxton CF, Randy Dobnak P
HOU: Kyle Tucker RF, Jose Altuve 2B, Alex Bregman 3B, Yordan Alvarez 1B, Carlos Correa SS, Michael Brantley LF, George Spring CF, Yuli Gurriel DH, Garrett Stubbs C, Justin Verlander P
I don’t care how long its been since he was with the Tigers, it will always feel good to beat up on Justin Verlander. The Twins put up a big inning against the Astros’ ace, and outlasted a meltdown by Meat Raffle to take the victory.
Randy Dobnak was back on his form today, and pitched six innings while only surrendering two runs. The first of those runs came in the first. Kyle Tucker hit a lead off double. A couple batters later, Carlos Correa brought him home with an RBI single.
In the second though, the Twins did things to make you forget about that run. First, Eddie Rosario drew a walk. Then Nelson Cruz did the same. A single from Marwin Gonzalez tied the game and brought Byron Buxton to the plate. Buck started out his night strong, by hitting a three-run home run. Finally, a bunt single put Jorge Polanco on base, where he was joined by Luis Arraez who walked. Josh Donaldson hit a single to bring home the lead runner, and send Justin Verlander for an early shower.
Two innings later, the score would change again. Arraez would single, Donaldson walked, and Rosario singled, which loaded the bases for Mitch Garver. His single was good for one RBI, and a fielder’s choice hit by Marwin Gonzalez brought home a second run, making the socre 7-1 in favor of the Twins.
Run number eight would come when Josh Donaldson and his sexy dog-fetcher hit a home run to open the top of the sixth. Houston got that run back in the bottom of the inning. Jose Altuve lead off the inning with a single. He stole second, and then attained third base on a groundout. Finally, a single by Carlos Correa brought Altuve in, the second RBI this evening for the Houston shortstop.
In the eighth, it was Eddie Rosario’s turn for a bomba. That solo homer capped the Twins scoring.
Finally, in the ninth, with a big lead, Caleb Thielbar made it interesting. The first batter he faced, George Springer, hit a solo home run. The second was the only man he got out. Garrett Stubbs hit a single, and so did Kyle Tucker and then Jose Altuve, which loaded the bags. Alex Bregman hit a single for an RBI, and then Yordan Alvarez hit a double for two more runs. That was finally the cue for Taylor Rogers to enter, and to put away the ballgame.
Notes
- Hey cool, that blown lead means Rogers got a cheap save.
- Thielbar tonight: 0.1 IP, 6 hits, 4 runs
- I think I said yesterday that the Astros were visiting. The Twins are actually on the road.
STUDS:
Byron Buxton: 3-5, HR, double, 3 RBI
Josh Donaldson: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Eddie Rosarion: 2-3, HR, RBI, 2 BB
DUDS:
No duds, Twins win!
Tomorrow: Game two of three at the Astros shiny new park. First pitch 7:10pm