Cubs 3, Twins 1: Hard to win when you can’t score

This game was one of those low-scoring affairs where the Twins just couldn’t get anything going on offense but their pitching was pretty good. Their starter John Gant was very solid, tossing 5 innings allowing 2 runs and striking out 5.

The game started ominously, with a solo blast from Frank Schwindel on literally the first pitch of the game. Then in the 2nd, Robinson Chirinos hit an RBI triple to put the Cubs ahead 2-1. The Twins got their one and only run on a Jorge Polanco sac-fly in the first inning.

We had some baserunners but weren’t able to get any home in the middle innings. Luis Arraez hit into an inning-ending double play in the 5th, and Josh Donaldson did the same in the 6th. They stranded two more baserunners in the 7th.

On the pitching side, Tyler Duffey was brought into the game in the 7th with the bases loaded and proceeded to strike out the side to keep the Twins in the game.

In the 8th, Ian Happ blasted a solo shot to left off of Caleb Thielbar to make it a 3-1 game. The Twins got another chance in the bottom of the 8th, loading the bases for Max Kepler. He flew out to short right, Arraez tried to score but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. Not a great play.

The Twins went quietly in the 9th inning, ending the game at 3-1. There were plenty of scoring chances but the Twins couldn’t do anything with those chances. Three innings were ended on double plays, which isn’t a recipe for success.

Studs:

Tyler Duffey: Worked out of a bases loaded, no outs, jam.

John Gant: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 5 K.

Duds:

Everyone else.

Robot Roll Call!

Thanks for joining the thread, everyone! Sorry that the game was so uneventful.