Twinkie Town - Gamehub: Angels at Twins, Game 12An online community of Twins fans mourning the death of Prince Rogers Nelson.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52554/tt_fav.png2013-04-16T01:20:23-04:00http://www.twinkietown.com/rss/stream/39928032013-04-16T01:20:23-04:002013-04-16T01:20:23-04:00Correia, Mauer, Plouffe, Florimon Lead Twins
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Twins hit on all cylinders (and Joe Blanton) en route to an Angels beat down.</p> <p>Early on in tonight's contest, it didn't look like <span>Kevin Correia</span> was going to possess the magic that he'd had through his first two starts of the season. <span>Peter Bourjos</span> led off the game with a home run, and two innings later <span>Brendan Harris</span> broke a 1-1 tie with a homer of his own. And yes, you read that correctly: Brendan Harris. The very same.</p>
<p>The last time Harris went yard the date was April 8, 2010. Three years and one week ago. For the <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Twins</a>. Of course, that was the highlight of his season and he'd eventually be banished to the minor leagues in June. He wouldn't return to the Majors until this year with the <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Angels</a>.</p>
<p>Minnesota was able to answer the Angels on both occasions. <span>Ryan Doumit's</span> two-out single in the first scored <span>Joe Mauer</span> following his double. In the third the Twins answered on a <span>Justin Morneau</span> double, scoring <span>Darin Mastroianni</span> after his single and stolen base. <span>Trevor Plouffe</span> led off the fourth with a homer, and Mauer followed that up by going yard to the opposite field to lead off the fifth. Mauer's single in the sixth put the Twins up 5-2, but he picked up another RBI single in the eighth followed by a two-run line drive from <span>Pedro Florimon</span> to bring us to our final score.</p>
<p><span>Oswaldo Arcia</span> made his first start of the season and while we didn't get too many opportunities to see him play the field in left (dropped ball what?), he looked good (if aggressive) at the plate. He drilled a second-pitch cutter into right for a single in his first at-bat that saw him smartly move up to second when <span>Josh Hamilton</span> bobbled the ball. In the fourth he flew out to center. In the sixth he stepped in with runners on second and third and two outs, taking the first pitch he saw from <span>Michael Roth</span> and launching it deep into the left-center field gap. Unfortunately, Bourjos caught up to it. Arcia finished the day 1-for-3 and averaged two pitches per plate appearance.</p>
<p><span>Joe Blanton</span> clearly didn't have his best arsenal on him today, and Halos Heaven believed that with anyone else on the hill they'd have been in charge of the game.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Anybody besides Blanton and the Angels are coasting in this one, instead, down 4-2 after 6.</p>
— Halos Heaven (@halosheaven) <a href="https://twitter.com/halosheaven/status/323977078993219584">April 16, 2013</a>
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Personally, I think the Twins pretty well put that notion to bed with the way they knocked around Roth and <span>Mark Lowe</span>, but the bottom line is that the club finally put together a complete contest. The offense hit. The pitchers pitched. The defense defended. A philosophy Yogi Berra could get behind.</p>
<p>Kevin Correia, on the other hand, looked like he was enjoying the chilly weather. His breaking pitches continue to move pretty well, and he's had pretty good command of his fastball over his first three starts of the season. He moved his pitches around, and garnered at least two of his strikeouts by setting hitters up. We know he's been racking up ground ball outs, even if his ground ball rate isn't as high as it was in Pittsburgh last season, but one of the big reasons he hasn't hit a big inning yet is because he's kept the ball in the yard. If he can continue to never allow home runs, the Twins will have their chances to win.</p>
<p><span>Aaron Hicks</span> didn't start tonight, but came in as a defensive replacement late in the contest. In his one plate appearance he ground out a walk before stealing second - the first of hopefully many stolen bases in his career. On an odd drop behind the plate he got a late jump but still slid head first into third base safely. That speed will be an enormous asset once his bat works itself out.</p>
<p>Florimon made a couple of nice plays tonight. He was aggressive and charged slow rollers, and he also went deep into the hole and made a strong throw to Morneau at first to retire <span>Albert Pujols</span>. Morneau had to come off the bag in this case and was forced to take Pujols, but we're giving credit for the out being made. Add in Florimon's speed when he bunted up the first base line in the middle of the game, as well as that big two-run double in the eighth, and it's easy to see how his flashes of brilliance parlayed into a full time job at short.</p>
<p>It was a good game to watch. Probably because the Twins won, which always helps. Minnesota improves to 5-7 on the season, and will try to start a winning streak tomorrow.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Studs</b></p>
<div style="text-align: center;">Kevin Correia</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Joe Mauer</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Trevor Plouffe</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Pedro Florimon</div>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Duds</b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Nope</p>
https://www.twinkietown.com/2013/4/16/4229492/correia-mauer-plouffe-florimon-lead-twins-over-angels-8-2-oswaldo-arcia-first-mlb-startJesse Lund2013-04-15T23:42:08-04:002013-04-15T23:42:08-04:00Fast Reaction: Twins 8, Angels 2
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<figcaption>Hannah Foslien</figcaption>
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<p>Kevin Correia and Joe Mauer lead the Twins to win number five.</p> <p>Kevin Correia continued to amaze tonight, keeping the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> off-balance with a little bit of everything. Once again he picked up a lot more outs on the ground (eight) than through the air (three), but tonight that cold air must have had him feeling good because he racked up five strikeouts. He struck out more than five batters just three times in 2012, and one of them was against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> when he K'd nine.</p>
<p>Offensively the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a> picked up big hits when they needed them. <span>Joe Mauer</span>, <span>Trevor Plouffe</span>, and <span>Pedro Florimon</span> were big time catalysts and run producers tonight. As a team Minnesota was 12-for-35 tonight, which is like Joe Mauer in a good year. If your whole team hits like Joe Mauer in a good year, you're probably going to win the game.</p>
<p>Probably.</p>
<p><b>ROLL CALL!</b></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">twinsgirl197 (82)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">kenzertz (48)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Jesse (48)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">SooFoo Fan (47)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">DavidRF (45)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Purpledork (43)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Luke in MN (41)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">ColossusOfRhode (38)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Sportsavenue (31)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">SotaFan27 / TexansDC (25)</span></li>
</ol>
<div><b>Bullet Point Highlights</b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Trevor Plouffe and Joe Mauer both homered tonight, each recording dinger number 2.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Plouffe and Mauer also doubled, as did <span>Justin Morneau</span> and Pedro Florimon.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><span>Oswaldo Arcia</span> made his first start of his MLB career, going 1-for-3 with a great looking single in his first plate appearance. In his third, he gave it a ride but flew out to the warning track in left-center to strand runners on second and third.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Bert didn't like it when Pedro Florimon picked up a bunt single with two outs. Count me among the folks that actually enjoy Dick-n-Bert, but his rant made zero sense. #BertLogic</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Florimon also plated a pair in the eighth when the Twins were putting the game on ice.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><span>Kevin Correia's</span> ERA this season is 2.95. I keep chanting to myself "Just because I THINK he'll turn out like <span>Ramon Ortiz</span>, doesn't mean he WILL turn out to be like Ramon Ortiz. Just because I THINK he'll turn out like Ramon Ortiz, doesn't mean he WILL turn out to be like Ramon Ortiz. Justin because I THINK he'll..."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><span>Aaron Hicks</span> stole his first base of the season late in the game after earning a pinch hit walk, and then took third on a wild pitch from Mark Lowe. Sweet jebus is Hicks fast.</span></li>
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<div><b>Win Expectancy Chart</b></div>
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https://www.twinkietown.com/2013/4/15/4229320/mlb-final-score-twins-8-angels-2Jesse Lund2013-04-15T20:20:14-04:002013-04-15T20:20:14-04:00Game 12: Angels at Twins
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<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: center;"> <strong style="line-height: 9px;">First Pitch:</strong><span style="line-height: 9px;"> 7:10pm CDT</span> </div>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;"></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"> <strong>TV: </strong>FSN</div> <strong><div style="text-align: center;"> <strong>Radio:</strong> K-Twin</div></strong><strong><div style="text-align: center;"> <span><strong>Know Thine Enemy:</strong> </span><a href="http://www.halosheaven.com" target="_blank" style="line-height: 16px;">Halos Heaven</a> </div></strong><p></p>
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<p><em><strong>Angels:</strong></em><em> Bourjos (CF), Trout (LF), Pujols (1B), Hamilton (RF), Trumbo (DH), Kendrick (2B), Iannetta (C), Harris (SS), Jimenez (3B)</em></p>
<p><em><strong>Twins:</strong></em><em> Mastroianni (CF), Mauer (C), Morneau (1B), Doumit (DH), Parmelee (RF), Plouffe (3B), Arcia (LF), Dozier (2B), Florimon (SS)</em></p>
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<div class="pane sports_data_widget player_stats clearfix"><table class="zebra"> <thead> <tr> <th></th> <th>W-L</th> <th>G</th> <th>GS</th> <th>CG</th> <th>SHO</th> <th>SV</th> <th>BS</th> <th>IP</th> <th>H</th> <th>R</th> <th>ER</th> <th>HR</th> <th>BB</th> <th>K</th> <th>ERA</th> <th>WHIP</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody><tr> <td class="td-name td-first">2013 - <span>Kevin Correia</span> </td> <td>0-1</td> <td>2</td> <td>2</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>14.1</td> <td>15</td> <td>5</td> <td>5</td> <td>0</td> <td>2</td> <td>3</td> <td>3.14</td> <td class="td-last">1.19</td> </tr></tbody> </table></div>
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<div class="pane sports_data_widget player_stats clearfix"><table class="zebra"> <thead> <tr> <th></th> <th>W-L</th> <th>G</th> <th>GS</th> <th>CG</th> <th>SHO</th> <th>SV</th> <th>BS</th> <th>IP</th> <th>H</th> <th>R</th> <th>ER</th> <th>HR</th> <th>BB</th> <th>K</th> <th>ERA</th> <th>WHIP</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody><tr> <td class="td-name td-first">2013 - <span>Joe Blanton</span> </td> <td>0-2</td> <td>2</td> <td>2</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>10.0</td> <td>17</td> <td>11</td> <td>10</td> <td>4</td> <td>3</td> <td>4</td> <td>9.00</td> <td class="td-last">2.00</td> </tr></tbody> </table></div>
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<p>Let's go Twins!</p>
https://www.twinkietown.com/2013/4/15/4228734/game-12-angels-at-twinsJesse Lund2013-04-15T10:00:14-04:002013-04-15T10:00:14-04:00Twins vs Angels - News and Notes
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<figcaption>Lisa Blumenfeld</figcaption>
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<p>Another nice warm series at Target Field comes up this week, as Anaheim visits Minneapolis for a three-game series.</p> <h3>Probables (all games 7:10 pm, FSN)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Monday: <span>Kevin Correia</span> vs. <span>Joe Blanton</span>, 43 degrees and windy<br>
</li>
<li>Tuesday: <span>Mike Pelfrey</span> vs. Jason Vargas, 42 degrees<br>
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<li>Wednesday: <span>Vance Worley</span> vs. <span>Tommy Hanson</span>, 39 degrees, rain / snow mix<br>
</li>
<li>Thursday: OFF DAY FOR WARMTH</li>
</ul>
<h3>
<a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Angels</a> Notes</h3>
<ul>
<li>Prior to Minnesota's Sunday rain/snowout, the Angels and <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Twins</a> had scored the exact same number of runs - 40 in 11 games - despite the Twins' putrid .648 team OPS and Anaheim's much-more-respectable .733. The reason: the Angels as a team were hitting .131 with runners in scoring position, worst in the major leagues.</li>
<li>Remember when the Twins were absolutely desperate to get rid of <span>Brendan Harris</span>, to the point that they demoted him, paid the major-league value of his deal, and started trying to "accidentally" leave him in various minor-league cities? Well, you can welcome him back to Target Field this week; he made the Angels as a utility guy out of spring training. <br>
</li>
<li>Keep an eye on <span>Josh Hamilton</span>, who's slumping pretty badly in the first couple of weeks of his exorbitant five-year deal in LA. Hamilton, who turns 32 next month, will make $17 million this year. And next year. And then $25 million in 2015. But here's the amazing part: he will make a combined <i>$64 million in 2016 and 2017, when he is 36 and 37</i>. Between Hamilton, <span>Albert Pujols</span>, <span>Jered Weaver</span>, <span>C.J. Wilson</span>, and <span>Howie Kendrick</span>, the Angels already have an astounding $106 million committed in 2016. That's ignoring <span>Mike Trout</span>, who will be arbitration-eligible in 2015.</li>
<li>Injury news: Third baseman <span>Alberto Callaspo</span> could return today after missing the team's weekend series against Houston with a calf injury. SS Erick Aybar, however, will be out until at least April 25 with a bruised left heel, and is on the DL. And if you're looking for Weaver, he won't pitch - a left elbow fracture has him out until mid-May.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Twins Notes</h3>
<ul>
<li> <span>Aaron Hicks</span> leads the major leagues in strikeouts, with 20. He also is the only player in the American League who is qualified for the batting race who is hitting under .100. (He's at .047). But hey, if he gets hits in his next nine at-bats, he'll be above .200! So that's something, right?</li>
<li> <span>Wilkin Ramirez</span> is on three-day paternity leave, and the Twins <a href="http://www.twinkietown.com/2013/4/14/4224462/twins-to-call-up-top-prospect-oswaldo-arcia">have called up</a> star prospect <span>Oswaldo Arcia</span> to replace him. Arcia had batted .414 with three home runs so far this year at Rochester, and there are plenty of fans hoping that he'll stick in the big leagues.</li>
<li> <span>Tim Wood</span> pitched two innings on Saturday in extended spring training, and is getting closer to a return. <span>Cole De Vries</span> played catch the same day, but who knows when he'll be ready to return - or if there will even be a rotation spot available when he does come back.</li>
</ul>
https://www.twinkietown.com/2013/4/15/4224276/twins-vs-angels-news-and-notesJon Marthaler