March 31 – This Day in Twins History

(click on images once or twice to make them larger)

 

2023No game today, scheduled day off.

2022 – MLB and MLBPA announce rule changes for 2022 season. MLB and MLBPA announce rule changes for 2022 season.pdf

2020 No Twins vs Mariners game in Seattle today due to COVID-19 – 6 games missed

2019 – The Twins jump on Indians starter Carlos Carrasco for 6 runs on ten hits in 4.1 innings and beat the Indians 9-3 at Target Field taking the series two games to one. Starter Michael Pineda made his Twins debut pitching four shutout innings, Martín Pérez (1-0) pitched 3.2 innings of relief in his Twins debut and Ryne Harper made his major league debut with a scoreless ninth becoming the sixth-oldest player (second-oldest pitcher) to make his major league debut for the Twins (since 1961) at 30 years and four days old, INF Minnie Mendoza (4/9/1970, 36.144 years old) is the oldest. The offense recorded 15 hits with Nelson Cruz leading the way with three hits including the Twins first home run of the season. Five other Twins batters had two hits each. Box Score

Michael Pineda
Martin Perez
Ryan Harper
Nelson Cruz

2018 –  The Twins beat the Orioles by a score of 6-2, evening the series. Kyle Gibson (1-0) was the starter and winner, pitching 6.0 no-hit innings with five walks and six strikeouts. Orioles hitters were held hitless for 7.2 innings, until a Jonathan Schoop single off Ryan Pressly in the eighth. Miguel Sanó, Jason Castro and Max Kepler all hit home runs. Box Score

Kyle Gibson
Sano
Castro

 

 

 

 

 

2014 – It is the Twins seventh consecutive Season Opener that they have scored three runs or less as they lose to the Chicago White Sox by a score of 5-3 at U.S. Cellular Field in nice 65 degree weather. A crowd of 37,422 looked on as Chris Sale started for the White Sox and $49 million (4 years) free agent Ricky Nolasco did the honors for Minnesota. Nolasco gave up all five runs on 10 hits over 6 innings (93 pitches) and took the loss. Chris Sale got the win with 7.1 innings of work. Outfielder Alejandro De Aza was 2 for 4 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI. The Twins new catcher Kurt Suzuki was 2-4 with 3 RBI as Joe Mauer started at first base and was 0-4. Aaron Hcks and Chris Colabello also had two hits each and both had doubles. Box Score

Kurt Suzuki
Chris Colabello
Aaron Hicks

 

 

 

 

 

2010 – Twins outfielder Denard Span struck his mother, Wanda Wilson, in the chest with a foul ball while batting in the first inning on Wednesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa against the Yankees in a spring training game. Span was leading off the game against the Yankees’ Phil Hughes when he fouled a 3-2 pitch directly to the left of the visitors’ third-base dugout, where a group of friends and family members were settling in for the game. The ball struck his mother, who was sitting three rows from the field and wearing a Twins jersey with Span’s name on it, with a thud that was audible to the players on the Minnesota bench. Span immediately dashed into the seating bowl, consoling her as help arrived. Luckily, Span’s mother was not seriously hurt and after being checked out, watched the remainder of the game. video

Denard Span

2008 – It was an interesting Opening Day for sure as the Twins hosted the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the Metrodome with 49,596 fans looking on. Long-time Twins center fielder Torri Hunter who had left as a free agent showed up as the new Angels center fielder and met the Twins CF Carlos Gomez. Livan Hernandez started for Minnesota and Jeff Weaver started for Anaheim. Both pitchers gave up their share of hits but neither team could really put a rally together. The Wwins went up 2-0 after four innings but the Angels tied it in the top of the fifth only to have the Twins go ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the frame when Micaheal Cuddyer singled in Gomez who had singled and stole second base. Neither team scored after that and the Twins came up 3-2 winners. Heernandez went 7 innings (84 pitches) and allowed 2 runs on seven hits and notched his first Twins win. Weaver took the loss with 6.1 innings of work and 106 pitches. Neither team hit a home run and the go-go Twins stole 4 bases and had 3 doubles. Gomez, Delmon Young and Brendan Harris each had 2 hits. Box score

Livan Hernandez
Brendan Harris
Delmon Young

 

 

 

 

 

Carlos Gomes and Torii Hunter

2003 – This was the earliest opening day in Minnesota Twins history, (it has since been surpassed) and takes place Comerica Park as the Twins beat the Tigers 3-1 in Detroit. Tigers outfielder Gene Kingsale leads off the bottom of the first inning with a bunt single (replays showed he was actually out) off Twins starter Brad Radke and Radke doesn’t allow another hit until the bottom of the seventh inning. Radke gets the win by allowing just 3 hits in 6.2 innings while striking out three and allowing just the one run. Dustan Mohr and A.J. Pierzynski each hit a home run to account for all the Twins runs in a quickly played game that lasts just 2 hours and 10 minutes, maybe the 38 degree temps had something to do with that. Box Score

Getting ready for Opening Day in Detroit on March 31, 2003
Credit: Star Tribune

 

1999 – The Twins send pitcher Dan Serafini to the Cubs and get cash for their coffers.

Dan Serafini

 

1998 – The Minnesota Twins are in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to play the Montreal Expos in an ISEG but in reality the Twins are there because Twins owner Carl Pohlad wants to sell the team and possible Twins buyer Don Beaver needs help getting a bill passed for a new stadium. This all goes back to an October 3, 1997 proposed agreement to move the team. You can see the agreement by going to October 3. Bottom line here is that the “home town” Twins beat the Expos 9 to 8.

Twins_9_and_Expos_8

Twins_home_team_in_NC_in_game_versus_Expos

Twins_in_NC

 

1987 – Just before the Twins open their championship 1987 season they trade pitchers Bryan Hickerson, Ray Velasquez, and Jose Dominguez to the Giants for pitcher David Blakely and outfielder Dan Gladden. The only two players to see big league action in this group were Gladden and Hickerson.

Jose Dominguez
Ray Velasquez
Bryan Hickerson
Dan Gladden
Dave Blakely

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1972March 31, 1972: The day the players took control of their union

 

previous day     next day

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *