Twins 8, Orioles 3: Set the DeLorean for 2019

This looked a hell of a lot like a typical 2021 Twins game. Until it looked a hell of a lot like a typical 2019 Twins game.

Matt Shoemaker pitched what was probably his best outing of the season, giving up a run in the first, before blanking the O’s through the next five innings, exiting after six, having given up one run on five hits, two walks, and three punchouts. Nice work Matt, you kept your team in the game, and were in line for a ever-so-important pitcher win.

John Means was, if anything, better than Shoemaker. He just happened to have a couple mistakes. Means pitched seven innings, surrendering two runs on five hits, no walks, and five strikeouts. But man, those mistakes. The first was a third-inning blast by Trevor Larnach that put him into some elite company (and Tyler Austin, who you had honestly forgot about.)

The second run the Twins scored off Means also came on a bomba, as the 2019 revival night kicked off. This was obviously another solo dong, hit in the sixth by one Kyle Garlick, who is like a Twins superhero now.

Luke Farrell relieved Shoemaker, and his night was neither hot, nor cold. Look, I’m proud of this pun, and not at all ashamed to just keep repeating it.

Jorge Alcala did not continue the scorelessness after a rain delay. He surrendered the lead, and a pair of runs in the eighth inning. That just seemed to have made the Twins offense angry though. With the Twins behind by a run, the bats came alive, and we saw what we expected to see from the Twins (in other words not the garbage of the last two months.)

Andrelton Simmons started the inning with a walk, in his first at bat. Kyle Garlick picked up his second hit of the evening, singling to put runners on the corners, and then Josh Donaldson hit a sac fly that tied up the game. But oh, were the Twins just getting started. Alex Kirilloff singled. Mitch Garver then poured a little garvsauce on it, and hit a oppo double to bring both Garlick and Kirilloff home. Miguel Sano single. Rob Refsnyder single. Trevor Larnach single. Andrelton Simmons single. Nelson Cruz walk. End result: six run inning. Kyle Garlick struck out to end it, but we can forgive him.

Even Alex Colome looked good tonight, and struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth. I still l don’t trust him though.

Studs:

Matt Shoemaker
Trevor Larnach
Kyle Garlick
The home half of the eighth inning

Duds:

For those who don’t recall, it was the doldrums of the early 2010’s, and the Twins lost a lot, therefore here at Twinkietown a tradition started. When the Twins win, there are no Duds.

Roll Call:

COTG: Uh, take it Brandon or James. I’m not that self-centered.