Game 2 of today’s Doubleheader vs Detroit was the makeup game of a postponed game in Detroit last week so Detroit was the home team and it was weird to see the Twins come to the plate first since it was at Target Field.
The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 3rd on rookie OF Brent Rooker’s #1stMLBHit, a very hard hit line-drive to left field that came off his bat at 112mph and earned him his #1stMLBRBI, too.
Twins reliever RHP Matt Wisler “opened” another game and did it very well again, pitching 2 innings, allowing 0 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3. RHP Sean Poppen took over in the 3rd and he allowed 2 runs on 3 hits in 0.2 of an inning. LHP Caleb Thielbar came in to finish off the 3rd then pitch the 4th & 5th and he allowed 3 hits and 1 walk but no runs while striking out 2. RHP Tyler Clippard pitched a perfect 6th and the Twins were still down 2-1 heading into the top of the 7th and I thought it before TV analyst Justin Morneau said it, this could be a “walkoff” win. Yes, it could but after thinking about it, we didn’t want it to because Detroit was the home team so they were up last.
So…the Twins were down one with just 3 outs remaining & they had Ehire Adrianza (0-3, K), Ryan Jeffers (0-2, K) & Jorge Polanco (3-3, R) due up to face Detroit closer LHP Gregory Soto. Adrianza earned a walk on 6 pitches. Josh Donaldson pinch-hit for Jeffers and he also earned a walk but this one was on 8 pitches and he had to foul off a 98mph & a 97mph fastball to stay alive in the at-bat. Donaldson was pinch-run for by Jake Cave. Detroit took a #MoundVisit to discuss how they wantted to approach Polanco & try to get out of this jam they were in.
On a 2-2 98mph fastball, Polanco singled to center to score Adrianza and tie the game at 2. Jake Cave advanced to 3rd so the 3rd run was on 3rd with no outs but Sano & Cruz struck out swinging. Polanco stole 2nd base (2). Rocco pinch-hit Willians Astudillo in Brent Rooker’s spot and he hit a soft liner to 2nd to end the top of the 7th and leave the game tied at 2 so RHP Sergio Romo came in to pitch the 7th.
Sergio got 2 groundouts & a popout to send the game to extra innings and the Twins would begin the 8th with Willians Astudillo & his turtle speed at 2nd base and Eddie Rosario at the plate to lead it off against new Detroit reliever RHP Jose Cisnero. Rosie flew out to left field on the first pitch. That brought up Marwin Gonzalez and he also swung at the first pitch but it was a single up the middle and the Turtle was being waved home. Oh, boy…this is going to be interesting. Detroit CF Derek Hill let it get past him so Astudillo scores and Marwin advances to 2nd on the error and the Twins lead 3-2. Buxton & Adrianza flew out to left to sent it to the bottom of the 8th and it was going to be up to RHP Trevor May to get it done against Miguel Cabrera, Jeimer Candelario & Willi Castro.
Former Twins Jonathan Schoop started the inning on 2nd base. Trevor May struck out Cabrera swinging, struck out Candelario looking and….
He also struck out Willi Castro swing to strike out the side in the bottom of the 8th to earn his 2nd save of the season for a Doubleheader sweep and the Twins 4th consecutive WIN.
Milwaukee beat Cleveland 7-1 but the White Sox beat the Royals 7-4 so the Twins are still 0.5 game back of 1st place and tied with Cleveland for 2nd.
It will be Same Teams tomorrow at 6:10pm on FOX Sports North:Twins RHP Kenta Maeda (4-1, 2.53 ERA) vs Tigers LHP Tarik Strubel (1-1, 6.75 ERA)
We hope you’ll be watching, #TwinsTakers!!!
