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Today’s lineups:
MIN: Max Kepler RF, Jorge Polanco SS, Ehire Adrianza 2B, Josh Donaldson 3B, Mitch Garver C, Eddie Rosario LF, Nelson Cruz DH, Marwin Gonzalez 1B, Byron Buxton CF, Jake Odorizzi P
KCR: Khalil Lee RF, Whit Merrifield 2B, Jorge Soler DH, Hunter Dozier 3B, Ryan O’Hearn 1B, Nicky Lopez SS, Brett Phillips CF, Salvador Perez C, Alex Gordon LF, Kevin McCarthy P
Long-time readers here will remember when the Twins had a veritable plethora of ‘Eds.’ That period was best encapsulated in the timeless humour piece “Twenty-Five Eds.” Anyway, the Twins no longer employ nearly so many Eds, being reduced to only Eddie Rosario and Ed-hire Adrianza. Both Eds, however, came through with the bat tonight.
Kansas City opener Kevin McCarthy kept the Twins off the board for 1.2 innings, and allowed only a single hit. Jorge Lopez relieved him, and got the .1 part of his 2.1 innings out of the way in a single batter. Lopez would actually pitch for three more innings, but failed to record an out in his final frame.
He did hold the Twins scoreless again in the third. He did not in the fourth. In the fourth, a two-out single by Mitch Garver brought up Eddie Rosario, with Nelson Cruz on deck. Two of the guys OOTP wants me to think were on a cold streak. Apparently they weren’t that cold—they both hit home runs. In the fifth, the top of the order decided to do it the hard way. Buxton and Kepler hit singles, and then Polanco doubled them both home. Ehire Adrianza hit a single that brought in his double-play partner, and gave the Twins their six total runs. Mike Matheny finally saw enough of Lopez, and brought in old friend Randy Rosario (bonus link) who sat down three Twins in a row. Well really, it was more like eight Twins in a row, but only three in that inning.
Meanwhile, Jake Odorizzi was cruising. He gave up an RBI double to the aged husk of what used to be Alex Gordon in the second inning. He also put Brett Phillips on second with a double in the sixth, and was credited with the run when Matt Wisler let Salvador Perez hit a single to bring home the runner.
Otherwise it was an uneventful day for the Twins bullpen. Wisler, Thielbar, and Duffey allowed no runs, and not even a real threat.
Notes
- I know a lot of simulated Twins seasons have been wrapping up, but we’ll keep this thing going for at least another week.
STUDS:
Ehire Adrianza: 2-4, 1 RBI, double
Eddie Rosario: 2-4, 2 RBI, HR
Tyler Duffey: 1.1 IP, 0 hits, 3 K
DUDS:
No duds, Twins win!
Tomorrow: Game two against the Royals at 7:10 pm