Josh Willingham’s three-run double in the seventh inning yesterday highlighted the Twins’ come-from-behind 5-4 win over the Rays. Willingham, who had only a .246 batting average for the Athletics last season, has at least one hit in all 14 Twins games this year. The only other major-league player in the past 15 years who hit safely in each of his team’s first 14 games coming off a season with a batting average that low was Scott Brosius. Brosius hit .230 for the Yankees in 2000, but then had a hit in each of their first 14 games in 2001, which was his final season in the big leagues. Source: Elias
Willingham now owns the Twins record for longest hitting streak to start their career with the club and is just one game shy of tying Kirby Puckett, who owns the Twins record hitting safely in each of the Twins first 15 games in 1994.
The Twins pitching staff has allowed 22 home runs this season, only the Boston Red Sox have allowed more with 23.
The Twins have the fourth highest batting average in baseball at .270, the Texas Rangers .306 is the highest average.
The Twins and the Cubs have each ground into 16 double plays, the most in baseball.
Twins minor leaguer Miguel Sano is the subject of the documentary “Pelotero”, which follows him and countryman Jean Carlos Batista through the process of signing with major league teams. The film, produced by Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, is set for theatrical release this year. Sano went 4-for-5 with three doubles, two RBIs and a run scored Friday night, leading the Class A Beloit Snappers to a 13-3 romp over the South Bend Silver Hawks. Sano raised his average 53 points to .314, moving him above the .300 line for the first time this season. He moved into a tie for the Midwest League lead with 10 extra-base hits, six homers, three doubles and a triple in 15 games.