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Today’s lineups:
MIN: Max Kepler RF, Jorge Polanco SS, Ehire Adrianza 2B, Miguel Sano 1B, Nelson Cruz DH, Jake Cave LF, Marwin Gonzalez 3B, Alex Avila C, Byron Buxton CF, Jake Odorizzi P
TOR: Cavan Biggio 2B, Lourdes Gurriel Jr LF, Vladimir Guerrero Jr 3B, Bo Bichette SS, Rowdy Tellez DH, Teoscar Hernandez CF, Travis Shaw 1B, Derek Fisher RF, Danny Jansen C, Tanner Roark P
Today’s lineups:
MIN: Max Kepler RF, Ehire Adrianza SS, Luis Arraez 2B, Miguel Sano DH, Eddie Rosario LF, Josh Donaldson 3B, Mitch Garver C, Jake Cave CF, Marwin Gonzalez 1B, Lewis Thorpe P
TOR: Cavan Biggio 2B, Lourdes Gurriel Jr LF, Vladimir Guerrero Jr 3B, Bo Bichette SS, Teoscar Hernandez CF, Billy McKinney RF, Logan Forsythe DH, Travis Shaw 1B, Russell Martin C, Chase Anderson P
The Twins had nine hits tonight. Eight of those came from the 1, 2, 8, and 9 hitters. Josh Donaldson was the only guy in between that collected a hit—and it was a big one, but came too late.
Lewis Thope wasn’t on his stuff at all today, and the Twins were never even as competitive as the score suggests.
The Blue Jays small-balled their way into a run in the first. Cavan Biggio collected a bunt hit to open the inning. He made it to third on a single by Vladito, and then scored on a sac fly. Toronto opened it way up in the second—making the score four to nothing. Billy McKinney hit a single and Logan Forsythe walked. Cavan Biggio then drew a two-out walk to load the bases, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr cleared them with a double.
Russell Martin added another run on a solo home run in the top of the fourth, ending Thorpe’s night. This was the second game in a row that the Twins young lefties exited early. The Jays scored again, against Matt Wisler, in the fifth, using a single, a double, and a ground ball.
The fifth was when the Twins finally got on the board. Marwin Gonzalez and Max Kepler hit back-to-back doubles to bring the score to six-to-one in favor of the Canadians.
In the sixth, Zack Littell issued three walks that loaded the bases, and was replaced by Tyler Clippard. A single by the first batter he faced, Bichette, scored two more runs.
The Twins scored again in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, one run in each. In the seventh, it was Gonzalez and Kepler again — this time a triple and an RBI single. Toronto’s final run in the eighth was the result of a walk and a double. Donaldson’s solo home run in the eighth was the only hit for the middle of the order. In the ninth, it was Jake Cave with the triple. Marwin Gonzalez brought him in with a sac fly.
Notes
- Deolis Guerra pitched the end of this one—I can’t be the only who thought he’d retired years ago.
STUDS:
Max Kepler: 3-5, 2 RBI, double
Marwin Gonzalez: 2-3, RBI, double, triple
Ehire Adrianza: 2-4, walk
DUDS:
The #3 through #7 hitters: 1-18
Tomorrow: Its a double header due to the rainout yesterday. See you in a few hours