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2024 – The Twins lost to the Tigers on a Sunday afternoon at Target Field by a score of 6-1, dropping the series two games to one and making them 1-4-2 in series play in 2024 (0-3-0 at home). Louie Varland (0-4) was the starter and loser, allowing four runs on three hits in 2.2 innings pitched, with four walks and two strikeouts. Varland threw 39 balls compared to 35 strikes. Varland’s performance so far this season earned him a trip back to AAA St. Paul. The offense recorded seven hits, just two going for extra bases, a Willi Castro double and an Austin Martin (1) home run — the first of his career in the ninth inning. Bring on those last place Chicago White Sox. Box Score
2023 – The Twins begin their second home stand of the season in cool and damp weather. The temperature when Tyler Mahle took the mound at Target Field against the Washington Nationals for the Twins to throw the first pitch is 37 degrees but the weather does not seem to bother Mahle as much as it seemed to bother the Twins bats. Mahle was did not factor into the decision, allowing one run on three hits in 6.1 innings pitched, exiting with a 2-1 lead in the seventh. Griffin Jax (1-2) was issued the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in the eighth inning. Jax’s cause was not helped when Trevor Larnach threw to the wrong base allowing a Nats player to take second and then score what turned out to be the winning run on a single. Twins bats recorded six hits, two from Byron Buxton, who doubled and singled. Joey Gallo hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season. With the loss, the Twins have gone just 1-8 in their last nine games against the Nationals since 2013. Jorge Polanco was reinstated from the IL and played with the Twins for the first time this season. Box Score
The Twins announced that they have signed right-handed pitcher Pablo López to a four-year contract extension through the 2027 season. López, 27, has gone 1-1, 1.73 ERA (26.0 IP, 5 ER), six walks, 33 strikeouts, a .167 (15-for-90) opponent batting average, 0.81 WHIP and 11.42 strikeouts-per-nine innings through four starts this season for the Twins. A native of Cabimas, Venezuela, López was acquired by the Twins from the Marlins on January 20 along with infielder Jose Salas and outfielder Byron Chourio, in exchange for infielder Luis Arraez. He was originally signed by the Seattle Mariners as an international free agent in 2012 and traded to Miami in July 2017.
2022 – Behind some stellar pitching the Twins are able to beat the Royals in the final game of the road trip (3-4) when four Twins pitchers limit the Royals to just three hits. Twins starter Joe Ryan (2-1) nails down the win with six sharp scoreless innings allowing but two hits and a walk while striking out five on 85 pitches. Jhon Duran, Joe Smith, and Emilio Pagan each pitched one scoreless inning and Pagan was credited with his first Twins save. Center fielder Nick Gordon should also get a save for his throw from center field in the fourth inning that nailed Royals runner Andrew Benintendi at the plate for the final out of the inning after catching a fly ball off the bat of Salvador Perez. Gordon was also the only hitter to have two hits in the game. Miguel Sano had the only RBI on aa Sac Fly in second inning. Box Score
The Twins and Padres completed an April 7 trade when the PTBNL from the Padres was announced as 19 year old Venezuelan RHP Brayan Medina. Medina was rated as the Padres 16th best prospect at the time.
2021 – After getting just eight hits in yesterday’s doubleheader loss, the Twins have 18 hits today in Oakland against the A’s and still find a way to lose when they get walked-off 13-12 in ten innings. The Twins losing streak now reaches four and the Twins stand 0 for four in extra-inning games. The Athletics jumped on Twins starter Kenta Maeda for eight hits and seven runs in just three innings of work. Alex Colome, the Twins sixth pitcher of the day allowed the tying run in the 9th inning and then allowed three more runs in the tenth inning for the A’s 13-12 walk-off win. To be fair, there were two two-out errors in the bottom of the tenth inning making the runs unearned. Colome blew his third save and took the loss making his record 1-2 and his ERA 5.63. The Twins had four home runs, two by Nelson Cruz and Byron Buxton and Josh Donaldson had one each. Box Score
2020 – The Twins would have been home today playing the Seattle Mariners, but we all know the season thus far has been postponed due to COVID-19. Counting today it means we have missed 24 games so far.
2019 – The Twins beat the hapless 8-15 Baltimore Orioles 4-3 at Camden Yards. The Twins don’t hit any home runs on this Sunday afternoon but find a way to sweep the O’s. C.J. Cron and Ehire Adrianza get two hits apiece and Kyle Gibson gets the win (1-0) with six innings and six strikeouts and two runs allowed. The Baltimore bunch don’t give up easy and the game ends after the O’s score one in the bottom of the ninth to make it 4-3 with the bases loaded and two out before Taylor Rogers finally gets Pedro Severino to fly out to right to end the game. Max Kepler and closer Blake Parker are still out with the flu. Box Score
2018 – The Twins lose on the road to the Tampa Bay Rays by a 10-1 score. The Twins hit into three double-plays and go 0 for 7 with RISP. Kyle Gibson as the Twins starter and loser. Box Score
2014 – No game today, scheduled day off.
2012 – With his lead off single in the ninth inning, Josh Willingham extended his season-opening hitting streak to 15 games. He improved upon the record he set Friday night, the longest hitting streak by a player to start his Twins career. And he tied Kirby Puckett’s 1994 Twins record for the longest season-opening hitting streak. His streaks ended as he went hit-less the next day. The Twins and starter Carl Pavano however; lost the game at Tropicana Field 4-1 to the Rays. Box Score
2009 – No game today. The game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park was rained out and will be played as part of a doubleheader tomorrow.
2008 – No game today, scheduled day off.
2007 – The Twins had started the 2007 season with 19 consecutive stolen bases before Torii Hunter gets caught in the 8th inning of their 17th game of the season. However; the Twins beat the Royals at Kauffman Stadium 7-5 and Joe Nathan performs a rarity during his 6th save of the season when he retires the Royals 1-2-3 in the ninth getting Esteban German, Tony Pena, and David DeJesus all looking at 3rd strikes. Getting the side out 1-2-3 for a save, all on called third strikes is rare feat and was last done in 2003 by Jose Valverde. Pat Neshek was credited with the win. Box Score
2004 – The Twins sell pitcher Brad Thomas to the Boston Red Sox.
1994 – Eddie Murray set a major league record with his 11th switch-hit home run (home run from each side of the plate) game as the Cleveland Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 10-6 at the Metrodome. Box Score
1985 – The Twins had won the first two games of the 1985 season under manager Billy Gardner but then proceeded to lose nine in a row before John Butcher took the mound for the Twins against the Oakland A’s at Oakland-Alameda County Stadium on this day and shut out the A’s on just 3 hits facing only 28 batters and threw just 81 pitches (according to Star Tribune). The game lasted just 1 hour and 55 minutes and Kirby Puckett went 3 for 5 and knocked in both runs. Box Score
1980 – No Twins game today, scheduled day off.
1976 – No game today, scheduled day off. Actually the Twins have three days off in a row in what is described as a scheduling oddity, no other reason provided.
1972 – No game today, scheduled day off.
1971 – No game today, game postponed due to wet grounds and rescheduled as part of a DH on July 11.
1969 – It rained off and on and wind gusts of up to 47 MPH blew dirt from across the freeway where a new airport runway was being built but 4,130 baseball fans braved the elements at Met Stadium and were rewarded with the Twins seventh win in a row keeping the team in first place in the AL West. A five run third inning off A’s starter Chuck Dobson that included six hits, a walk and an error put he Twins up 5-0. The final score was 8-4 Twins with Dean Chance who started for Minnesota getting the win with 7 innings of two-hit baseball in the books. The only run Chance gave up was unearned. Lead-off hitter Ted Uhlaender led the Twins 13-hit attack with 3 hits, 3 runs scored and a stolen base. Box Score.
Radio broadcast of the game, about 2 hours and 41 minutes
The trade that wasn’t made.pdf
1967 – The Tigers score two in the third, seven in the fourth and three in the sixth and beat the Twins 12-4 at Tiger Stadium. Tony Oliva of Minnesota lost a home run due to a base running blunder. Playing in Detroit in the third inning, Cesar Tovar was the runner at first base. Oliva hit the ball out of the park off Denny McLain, but then passed Tovar between first and second. He was credited with a single and one RBI for scoring Tovar. There was a 58 minute rain delay in the 7th inning. In the ninth inning Oliva hit another home run and this one counted. Rod Carew also contributed a home run but it was too little too late. Dave Boswell took the loss. After the game Manager Sam Mele fined a number of Twins players for their dismal play. Box Score
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1965 – The Twins spoil the New York Yankees home opener when they beat up the Bronx Bombers by a score of 7-2 and win their third straight game. Mel Stottlemyre started for New York and Camilo Pascual went for Minnesota. It was a rough start for Pascual as he gave up a single to Tom Tresh and a single to Bobby Richardson before Roger Maris hit into a 4-6-3 double play scoring Tresh. Mickey Mantle (3) then followed with a sole home run making it 2-zip for the New Yorker’s before Pascual could get out of the inning. But as it turned out that would be all the Yankee scoring for the day as the Twins scored three in the third, two in the fifth and 2 more in the eighth for a nice 7-2 win. Rich Rollins (1), Tony Oliva (1) and Jimmie Hall (2) all hit home runs for the visiting Twins. Pascual (1-0) who got the win left after seven innings complaining of a sore elbow after having given up two runs, on seven hits while striking out six. A nice crowd of 32,212 attended the game in 60 degree temps. The 4-1 Twins now are the first place Twins. Box Score
1964 – No game today. Twins home opener against the Washington Senators postponed on account of rain 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.
1961 – Back in the day when the Minneapolis Morning Tribune cost 7 cents, the Minnesota Twins played their inaugural home game at Metropolitan stadium but came away with a loss against Joe McClain and the Washington Senators. The Senators score two in the top of the ninth off reliever Ray Moore and took a 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Bob Allison reached on an error. McClain then struck out Jim Lemon but Earl Battey singled to right and the Twins had runners at the corners. That was it for McClain as the Senators brought in reliever Dave Sisler and the Twins countered by bringing in 40 year old Elmer Valo to pinch-hit for Reno Bertoia. Valo walked to load the bases and the Twins then brought in pinch-hitter Hal Naragon to hit for Billy Gardner. Naragon popped up to the shortstop and the Twins found themselves down to the last out. That last Twins batter was Pete Whisenant but Sisler struck him out and the Twins were 5-3 losers in their first ever home game. According to the paper McClain and Sisler needed just 94 pitches to beat Minnesota in a game that lasted 2 hours and 23 minutes. Don Mincher hit the Twins first home run at Met Stadium and Lenny Green also hit a home run later in the game. Twins starter Camilo Pascual went 8 innings allowing 8 hits and 3 runs but got a ND for his work on this day. 24,606 fans attended the Twins first home game and team ownership was disappointed that the game was not a sell-out with about 6,000 seats sitting empty. Temperature at game time was 63 degrees. There were no line-up cards available so Twins manager Cookie Lavagetto and Senators manager Mickey Vernon had to scribble their line-ups on pieces of scrap paper. Box Score
Twins lose first home opener at Metropolitan Stadium by Dave Lande
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