TWINS TRIVIA is hopefully a fun and informative site that will help you to better enjoy the Minnesota Twins and their wonderful history. “History never looks like history when you are living through it” – John Gardner, former Secretary of Health
The Twins defeated the Royals at Kauffman Stadium yesterday, 7-6, ending their streak of 11 straight games scoring three or fewer runs. That was the longest streak of that kind for any major-league team this season, and it tied the longest within one season for the Twins since they moved to Minnesota in 1961. The Twins had another 11-game streak of that kind in August (8/6-8/15) 1970. However; that 1970 team went on to win 98 games before losing to the Orioles in the ALCS.
Kennys Vargas‘s two-run homer in the sixth inning of the Twins’ 5-2 loss to the Royals ended a dubious streak for Minnesota. Entering that inning, the Twins had gone 106 consecutive innings without scoring multiple runs in an inning (dating back to September 15), the longest streak in the majors since the 1942 Phillies had a 109-inning streak of this type from May 23 to June 3. The Phillies finished that season with a record of 42-109 (.278). Only three teams have had a lower winning percentage in a season since then: the 1962 Mets (40-120, .250), 2003 Tigers (43-119, .265), and the 1952 Pirates (42-112, .273).
Nelson Cruz hit a pair of home runs in the Mariners’ 4-3 win as they handed the Twins their 100th loss of the season yeserday. Brian Dozier‘s 42 home runs are the most in one season by any player in major-league history for a team that lost at least 100 games. The only other 100-loss teams that boasted a player with at least 40 home runs were the 1923 Phillies (50-104, Cy Williams, 41 HR), 1930 Phillies (52-102, Chuck Klein, 40) and 1977 Braves (61-101, Jeff Burroughs, 41).
Tyler Duffey won his ninth game of the season and lowered his ERA to 6.11 in the Twins’ win over the Mariners on Saturday. The only Twins pitcher to finish a season with nine or more wins despite an ERA of 6.00 or higher was LaTroy Hawkins, who went 10-14 with a 6.66 ERA in 1999, his final season as a starting pitcher, before 16 seasons pitching exclusively out of the bullpen.
Brian Dozier hit his 42nd homer of the season, and his 40th as a second baseman, setting an American League record, in the Twins’ afternoon game yesterday, but he went 0-for-4 in the nightcap, ending his 24-game hitting streak. That was the longest hitting streak in a 40-homer season since Albert Pujols had a 30-game spree in 2003, when he clubbed 43 homers.
Brian Dozier had a two-run single in the Twins’ four-run second inning yesterday extending his hitting streak to 19 games. Dozier has 30 hits, 11 home runs and 22 runs batted in during this streak. The only other players in Twins franchise history with at least 30 hits, 10 home runs and 20 runs batted in over a 19-game span were Harmon Killebrew in 1961 (32 hits, 10 HR, 26 RBI) and Kirby Puckett in 1986.
When you are compared to two Hall of Famers you are in pretty good company. Dozier deserves more credit this year then he has received.
Jorge Polanco went 3-for-4 with a home run, four runs batted in and two runs scored in the Twins’ win over the Tigers yesterday. Polanco is the first Twins shortstop with at least three hits, one homer, four RBI and two runs scored in a game since Greg Gagne did it on the next to last day of the 1986 season. Gagne went 3-for-4 with two homers, four RBI and three runs scored in a win over the White Sox.
Brian Dozier hit his 40th home run of the season in the Twins 4-2 loss to the Tigers last night at Comerica Park. Dozier could become the eighth player to hit 40 homers in a season for a team that won less than 40 percent of its games. The last player to do that was Jeff Burroughs, who hit 41 long balls in 1977 for the Braves, who finished 61-101 (.377).
By the way, the following has nothing to do with Brian Dozier but it is still a fun read over at D.C. Baseball History. Maybe it could have happened here, after all, Minnesota ladies do love Brian Dozier.
Joe Mauer‘s single in the 12th inning scored Brian Dozier with the winning run for the Twins against the Indians. It was the eighth walkoff win of the season the for the Twins, the most in one season for the team since 2007 (10). Four of the Twins’ eight walkoff wins this season have come against the Tribe, matching the franchise record for most walkoff wins against one team in one season, done several times, the last coning against the Athletics in 1976.
Brian Dozier contributed a single, a stolen base and a run scored to the Twins’ victory over the Royals on Wednesday night, but his streak of five straight games with a home run ended. Dozier tied the major-league record for consecutive games with a home run, all as a second baseman. The other players who did that were Rogers Hornsby (1928), Ryne Sandberg (1989), Robby Thompson (1993), Jose Castillo (2006), and Chase Utley (twice in 2008).