Twins 10, A’s 2: Ober Under

This was about as low-stress of a win as a team in need of a streak-breaker could have asked for.

The Twins ambushed Oakland starter JP Sears with a 7-run second inning, offensively cruising to a 10-2 final with a motivating 16-hit performance from the starting lineup. (Okay, fifteen... Austin Martin pinch-hit and added one of his own.)

It was one of those games where it would be quicker NOT to list the offensive contributions. After nearly blowing an opportunity with runners on the corners to lead off the first (back-to-back two-out HBPs would drive in the only score), Minnesota knocked Sears out by going:

• 1B
• HBP
• Margot HR
• 1B
• 1B
• RBI 2B (6-1 Twins)
• FO (first out!)
• 1B
• RBI 2B (7-1)
• Manager Mark Kotsay says “heyyyyy! Wha’ happened?”, finally pulls starter

Kyle Farmer would tack on the last run of the inning, which set up a 106-pitch relief performance by Osvaldo Bido. But it wasn’t the most impressive pitching outing of the afternoon!

As this explosion was happening, Bailey Ober put on his big boy pants and saved a day’s work for the entire bullpen. In one of the most economical non-shutouts you may ever see, Ober pitched his first major-league complete game — and the team’s first since Pablo Lopez did it last season — with a final pitch count of 89 pitches.

Entering the ninth inning with a remarkable 81 pitches thrown, and accomplishing this feat despite allowing two runs on four hits, Ober struck out ten A’s, walked none, and delivered the kind of bullpen-resetting, get-on-my-back performance that a Twins team so prone to skids sorely needed.

After a clean, dominant team win, the Twins look to finish the job and take the road series in Oakland tomorrow afternoon, before continuing their tour of the American frontier. Hope to see you tomorrow!

STUDS:

SP Bailey Ober (9 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 10 K, 89 p)

RF Manny Margot (3-for-5, 3 R, 3 RBI, HR)

SS Carlos Correa (3-for-6, R, RBI, 2B)

3B Jose Miranda (3-for-5, R, 3 RBI, BB, 2 2B)

DUDS:

NO DUDS! TWINS WIN! TWINS WIN!