Twins 6, Tigers 5: Kenta Maeda scored the winning run!

Kenta Maeda says “eff your Manfredball.” I like Kenta’s approach.

Of course, in order to get to Manfredball, first we need to recap the baseball game that was. Michael Pineda made what honestly better be his last 2021 Twins start. Despite his very-goodness over the last few seasons for Minnesota, his expiring contract means its time for a trade.

Pineda put on a good show for the scouts, keeping the Tigers off the board through the first five innings. He gave up two runs in the sixth, leaving after that inning, having surrendered two runs on five hits, six strikeouts, and a home run. That two-run homer by Cabrera was the only mar on his night.

Matt Manning was not so effective. He allowed four Twins runners home, in five innings (since he couldn’t get an out in the sixth. Baseball counts weird sometimes.) Three of those were sixth inning bombas by Brent Rooker and Josh Donaldson (a Jorge Polanco walk in between accounts for the third.) The other two runs involved Mitch Garver. The saucy, uni-testicular catcher continued his red-hot return. In the second inning he doubled in Donaldson. In the fourth inning, he hit his second double of the night, and was driven in by Miguel Sano. Of course, Sano then tried to steal second because ahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...

Anyway. this is the 2021 Twins, so a five to two lead was not safe. Tyler Duffey surrendered a home run to baseball nobody Eric Haase in the seventh. Taylor Rogers didn’t get past the first batter of the ninth, although that conveniently means he couldn’t blow the save. That honor went to the ACE, Alex Colome, since Rogers left with an injury. Maybe he’s faking it so they can’t trade him this week? Sorry, I digress. Colome let Robbie Grossman hit a two-run homer to tie it up. Because ahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...

And, we are back where we started. Manfredball! Since Willians Astudillo was the final out of the ninth, he was due to start the inning on second. Instead Rocco Baldelli’s spreadsheet sent out... Kenta Maeda??!? What now??!? ahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa..........

Gilberto Celestino remained in the game in Brent Rooker’s spot, but was sent to center field, forfeiting the DH. Therefore, the pitcher was slid into the spot last occupied by Willians Astudillo.

But really, Baldelli had already pretty much emptied the bench, using Nick Gordon as a defensive sub, Gilberto Celestino as a pinch runner, and Willians Astudillo as a pinch hitter, all in the ninth. I guess Maeda is probably faster than Ryan Jeffers.

It worked, I guess. Max Kepler hit a two-out single that sent Maeda scampering home to end the ballgame.

Studs

Baldelli’s spreadsheet
Mitch Garver
Michael Pineda

Duds

No duds, Twins win

Roll Call

COTG

Mr Fillmore’s subliminal messaging