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2023 – NOTHING WEIRD ABOUT THIS GAME: The Twins beat the Rangers in a Sunday afternoon game at Target Field by a score of 7-6 in 13 innings, improving to 11-6 in bonus ball this season. Minnesota used six pitchers as the bullpen pitched 9 innings without allowing an earned run. Dallas Keuchel was the long man, pitching 5 shutout innings with five hits allowed, two walks and three strikeouts. Minnesota scored their first four runs on a sixth-inning grand slam from Royce Lewis (2nd of career). Donovan Solano tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. Michael A. Taylor walked in as the winning run in the bottom of the 13th, marking the Twins 10th walk-off victory this season. 13 innings and the 4:10 time of game both marked season-highs. Royce’s slam was the second for a Twins rookie this season, joining Matt Wallner as the first Twins rookies with grand slams in one season since Byron Buxton and Max Kepler did it in 2016. This makes four Twins victories in 2023 when trailing after eight innings. Box Score
2022 – The Twins beat the Giants at Target Field by a score of 3-2 in 10 innings, making them 5-8 in extras this season. The offense was shut out for the first eight innings until scoring two in the ninth and one in the 10th on a walk-off, bases loaded walk from Gilberto Celestino. It marked the club’s fifth win this season when trailing after eight innings (5-50). Sonny Gray was the starter, allowing one run on one hit with four walks in 5 innings pitched. The bullpen allowed just one run over 5 innings of relief. Carlos Correa had four of the Twins nine hits, his four hits tying a career-high. Box Score
2021 – The Twins beat the Brewers at Target Field by a score of 2-0, marking their sixth shutout of the season. Andrew Albers made the start for the Twins, pitching 5.1 shutout innings with three hits allowed, one walk and two strikeouts. It marked Albers’ first major league start since September 30, 2017 (with Seattle) and first as a Twin since September 4, 2016. Albers earned his first win in a Twins uniform since August 12, 2013 versus Cleveland. The span of eight years and 15 days between wins is second longest in Twins history trailing only Bert Blyleven (9 years, 77 days – May 23, 1976-August 8, 1985. The offense recorded eight hits, with the only two runs scored coming on a Josh Donaldson first-inning two-run homer. Max Kepler and Andrelton Simmons each had two hits. Our oft-injured outfielder Byron Buxton showed up to play after missing the Twins’ last 55 games with a left hand fracture. His future with the Twins depends on how he plays for the remainder of this season because he becomes a free agent after 2022. Box Score
2020 – Game has been rescheduled as part of a DH for tomorrow August 28.
2019 – White Sox starter Lucas Giolito had shutout the Twins at Target Field just six days earlier but today the Twins pinned a 3-1 loss on the 14 game winner at his home ballpark even though he allowed just two runs on four hits in six innings while striking out nine. The big blows were home runs by Marwin Gonzalez and Jonathan Schoop in the second inning. Twins starter Michael Pineda threw 89 pitches in five innings and allowed just one run on four hits while striking out 8 and was credited with his fourth-straight win upping his record to 10-5. Pineda has a 3.0 ERA over his last 12 starts. The bullpen was solid with four scoreless innings of work. The Twins 3-1 victory in game 131 was their 80th of the season, only the 1965 Twins got to 80 wins quicker (126 games). The Twins have recorded an extra-base hit in 84 straight games, third longest streak in club history. Box Score
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2018 – No Game Today
2017 – The Twins beat the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre by a score of 7-2, it was their first series win over the Blue Jays since June 9-11, 2014. Kyle Gibson (8-10) was the starter and winner, allowing two runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings pitched. The offense had 14 hits, six going for extra-base hits; Jorge Polanco doubled twice and Byron Buxton was 4 for 5 with 3 home runs, 4 runs scored, 5 RBI and a stolen base. The only Twin without a hit in the game was Max Kepler. Box Score
2012 – It is a pitching duel between the Seattle Mariners Felix Hernandez and the Twins Liam Hendriks and Target Field. The Twins out hit the Mariners five to three but come up on the short end of a 1-0 score when the Mariners Eric Thames leads off the 8th inning with a home run to left field. That is all the scoring that 31,883 fans get to see in the quick 2 hour 10 minute game. Hendriks goes nine innings allowing just the one run on three hits, three walks and strikes out six in what turns out to be the first and last complete game of his big league career as he moves from starting to relief. Twins catcher Joe Mauer made history tonight at Target Field, as he passed Earl Battey for Minnesota’s franchise record for most games caught. Mauer started behind the plate against the Mariners to mark his 832nd game caught, which passed Battey’s 831 games behind the plate, set during this time with Minnesota from 1961-67. Box Score
2010 – The Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 6-3 at Safeco Field. Scott Baker goes 6.2 innings allowing just 2 runs and gets his 12 win of the season. Everyone in the Twins line-up gets at least one hit except for catcher Drew Butera and DH Joe Mauer leads the charge by going 3 for 5 with a double and 2 RBI. Box Score
The Twins acquire lefty relief pitcher Brian Fuentes from the Los Angeles Angels for a PTBNL. In 2009 Fuentes was the league leader with 48 saves. The PTBNL that Minnesota sends to the Angels turns out to be 7′ 1″ minor league pitching prospect Loek Van Mil, the tallest man in organized baseball. The Twins currently have the tallest man in MLB in 6′ 11″ reliever Jon Rauch.
2009 – No Game today, scheduled day off.
2007 – No game today, scheduled day off.
2002 – The Twins top the Mariners, 5 – 2 at the Metrodome. Torii Hunter gets 3 hits including a home run and Jacque Jones gets 2 hits including a home run. Minnesota shortstop Cristian Guzman is held hitless, ending his 23-game hitting streak. Joe Mays gets the win and Eddie Guardado gets save number 37. Box Score
2001 – No Game Today
1975 – The Twins Craig Kusick ties the ML record (held by many) by being hit with pitches 3 times in one game by Milwaukee starting pitcher Bill Travers. The Twins got even with a 11-inning 1-0 win over the Brewers in County Stadium. Bert Blyleven goes the distance for his 14th win of the season allowing just 6 hits and striking out 13. Lyman Bostock gets two of the Twins five hits in the game but it is pinch-hitter Tony Oliva who singles in the winning run in Steve Brye who was pinch-running for Kusick who had gotten hit by a pitch for the third time in the game. Box Score
1972 – A tough day at the Met. The Tigers score an unearned run in the top of the ninth on an E-6 and tied the game at 2-2. The Tigers had four errors in the game but they did not cost them any runs. Then the Tigers’ Willie Horton clouts an 11th-inning two-run home run off Wayne Granger to beat Minnesota, 5 – 3, in the opener of two. Cesar Tovar was 3 for 6 for Minnesota with a run, RBI, and a stolen base. Dave Goltz started for the Twins and went 7.2 innings and allowed 2 run but got a ND for his work. Box Score game one
In the nightcap, Joe Coleman pitches 11 shutout innings against Minnesota before Aurelio Rodriguez’s home run off Dave LaRoche gives him the 1 – 0 win. This is the third win in a row for the Tigers on 11th-inning homers. Twins reliever Dave LaRoche pitches 2.1 innings in game one and blew the save and ended up the loser in this game with one more inning pitched. Danny Thompson had two of the Twins four hits in the game. Box Score Game two
1967 – The Twins jump on the Indians for a quick 6-0 lead and Twins starter Jim Merritt goes the distance for the 6-3 win, his 10th of the season. Ted Uhlaender extends his hitting streak to 14 games and robs Joe Azcue of a 2nd inning home run by reaching over the center field fence. Rod Carew and Rich Rollins each hit home runs to support the cause. Box Score
1963 – No Game Today, scheduled day off
1962 – No Game Today, scheduled day off
1961 – The Baltimore Orioles beat the Twins 3-0 at Met Stadium. O’s starter Milt Pappas pitches a complete game allowing just two hits while striking out 11 Twins batters. Oh yes, he also hits two home runs in the game (both off Pedro Ramos) becoming the first of two opposing pitchers to hit two home runs in a game against the Twins. Kansas City Royals Jim Rooker hit two home runs off Twins starter Jim Kaat in 1969. Ramos went 8 innings and allowed all 3 runs on home runs and he took his 16th loss of the season. Lenny Green and Bob Allison each had a hit and each was a double. The Twins were swept in the three game series and scored a total of just 6 runs by what is widely acclaimed as the best pitching staff in the American League. Fortunately for the Twins they have a day off tomorrow to catch their breath before the Bronx Bombers come to town. Box Score
