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2023 – The Twins lost to the Tigers at Comerica Park by a score of 6-0, suffering their eighth shutout of the season, seven of which have come on the road. Sonny Gray (5-5) was the starter and loser, allowing three runs (2 earned) on seven hits in 6 innings pitched, with no walks and 10 strikeouts. For Gray, it marked his 14th career game with double-digit strikeout totals and three short of his career high (13 on 4/7 vs. HOU). The offense recorded six hits, went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position
and left eight men on base. Carlos Correa reached three times, going 2-for-3 with one walk, just the fourth time this season he’s had back-to-back multi hit games. Box Score
2022 – No Twins game today, scheduled day off.
2021 – The Twins beat the Astros at Minute Maid Park by a score of 7-5, winning their ninth series (9-22-6) of the season and fifth on the road (5-10-5). Kenta Maeda (5-4) was the starter and winner, allowing three runs on six hits over five innings. Alex Colomé saved his fifth game. The offense recorded 12 hits. Max Kepler went 3-for-6 and Jorge Polanco went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI – his third career multi-homer game. The Twins completed their season-long nine-game roadtrip with a record of 5-4, going 1-2 in St. Louis, 1-1 in Cincinnati and 3-1 in Houston. The 48-64 Twins will now begin a season-long nine-game homestand starting with three games against the division leading Chicago White Sox against whom they have struggled this season going 4-12 so far. Box Score
2020 – The Twins announced today that they have reinstated Jake Odorizzi from the 10-day Injured List. Odorizzi began this season on the IL after sustaining a right intercostal strain during summer camp. Odorizzi fills the roster spot of Josh Donaldson, who was placed on the 10-day Injured List (retro to Aug. 4) last night with a right calf strain. Odorizzi started but used his allotment of 71 pitches over three innings allowing two runs on four hits and two walks and left the game trailing 2-0 but the Twins came back in the top of the fourth with four runs of their own off Royals starter Danny Duffy when Nelson Cruz and Byron Buxton both hit home runs with Buxton’s being a nice 3-run shot. Lewis Thorpe started the fourth but threw just six pitches to three KC batters giving up a single, home run, and a single and the Twins lead was history and Thorpe was headed for the showers. Cody Stashak gave up a couple more home runs and when the final out of the inning was finally made, the Royals had scored six for an 8-4 lead that they would eventually turn into a 9-6 win and assure the Twins of their first series loss of the season. Byron Buxton has now homered in three consecutive games for the first time in his career, all on the road. Kepler also homered hitting his fifth of the season. Marwin Gonzalez led the hitting attack going 3 for 3. Fourteen consecutive Twins runs dating back to August 5 were driven in by home runs, a streak broken today by Buxton’s RBI single in the sixth inning. The Twins are playing great in the field having committed just two errors in 15 games which is the one-quarter mark in the COVID shortened 60 game season. Box Score
2019 – The last time that the Twins had a lead in a baseball game was on August 5 against the Atlanta Braves and today was no different, the visiting Cleveland Indians were up 4-0 before the Twins finally put one on the board, actually two, in the bottom of the fourth on two out singles by Luis Arraez and Marwin Gonzalez. However; when the final score was posted it said Cleveland 7 and Minnesota 5 although the Twins did out hit the Indians 8 to 7. The Twins had the bases loaded with two out in the bottom of the ninth but Chaska native Brad Hand retired Eddie Rosario on a lazy fly ball to left for the final out. Kyle Gibson (11-5) was the starter and loser, allowing six runs (5 earned) on four hits in 4.1 innings pitched, including a career-high six walks. Arraez and Ehire Adrianza each had two hits. The Twins division lead is now one game over Cleveland. Box Score
2018 – The hometown Indians walked-off (Twins 11th walk-off loss of season ) the visiting Twins 5-2 when Francisco Lindor hit a 3-run home run off a Trevor Hildenberger hanging curve-ball with two on and two out in the bottom of the ninth. If the Twins ever deserved to lose a game it was probably this one when they committed three errors, ran the bases poorly and played defense as if the baseball was a hot potato. Miguel Sano had tied the game at 2 each with his first big league home run since May 31. Sano had two hits including the home run and a double. The recently acquired Logan Forsythe also had two hits including a double. Jake Odorizzi started for Minnesota but was pulled after 4.2 innings and 101 pitches. Box Score
2017 – The Twins beat the Brewers at Target Field by a score of 11-4 with the help of a six run fourth inning, sweeping the two-game series, their sixth sweep this season. Adalberto Mejía was the starter but left in the fourth inning with a left arm brachialis strain. Dillon Gee pitched four scoreless innings, earning his first career save. The offense recorded 14 hits, five being home runs, from Brian Dozier (grand slam), Eddie Rosario (twice) and Max Kepler (twice) – the first time since August 3, 2011 vs. LAA that two Twins hit multiple homers in a game (Cuddyer/Young). Joe Mauer passed Tony Oliva and moved into sole possession of third place on the Twins all-time hit list with 1,918 hits. Box Score
2015 – Joe Mauer puts the Twins out in front 1-0 with a first inning home run at Progressive Field but after that it was all Cleveland as they beat-up on the Twins 17-4 with 19 hits. Twins starter Ervin Santana lasted just 2.1 innings and gave up 8 earned runs on 10 hits and 2 walks. Paul Molitor had seen enough and called for outfielder Shane Robinson. Robinson became the first Twins position player to pitch since Jamey Carroll did it on August 5, 2013 at Kansas City. Robinson came in with the bases loaded and faced four batters – he walked the first batter and retired the next three hitters. Robinson is the eighth position player to pitch for the Twins. Eddie Rosario and Kurt Suzuki also hit home runs for Minnesota. Box Score
2013 – No game today, scheduled day off.
2009 – Twins starter Carl Pavano shuts out the Tigers for seven innings on five hits at Comerica Park and turns a 8-0 lead over to the bullpen who keep the Tigers off the board and the Twins post an 11-0 win over Tiger starter Justin Verlander who gives up five runs in six innings. Everyone in the Twins line-up had at least one hit and Denard Span led the Twins hit barrage by going 5 for 5. Delmon Young was the only Twins in the line-up that failed to cross home plate at least once. Only two Twins players missed out on adding RBI to their totals. The Twins only hit one home run and that came off the bat of catcher Joe Mauer. Box Score
The Twins third manager, Cal Ermer passed away at the age of 85 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Ermer replaced the fired Sam Mele in June 1967 with the Twins in sixth place with a 25-25 record. The Twins went 66-46 the rest of the season but lost the American League pennant on the final day of the season. Ermer was fired after the Twins finished in seventh place in 1968 with a 79-83 record and replaced by Billy Martin.
2005 – The Mariners and Twins are knotted at 4-4 at Safeco Field after 7 innings of play but the Mariners load the bases with two out in the eighth and Twins reliever Jesse Crain walks Jeremy Reed on a 3-2 count and forces in the lead run and the Mariners go on to win 5-4. Shannon Stewart was 2-4 for the Twins with two doubles and two RBI. Carlos Silva was charged with the loss. Box Score
One time Minnesota Twins manager (1976-1980) Gene Mauch passes away at the age of 79 at Rancho Mirage, Ca. Mauch was the seventh manager in Twins history and had a 378-394 record with the Twins. I think one of my favorite Gene Mauch quotes was “I’m not the manager because I am always right, but I am always right because I am the manager”.
2004 – The A’s beat the Twins 6 – 5 in 18 innings. It is the second-longest game in the 23-year history of the Metrodome. With the score tied 3 to 3, the A’s score 3 in the top of the 18th off Terry Mulholland to take a 6-3 lead. The Twins come back with 2 in the bottom of the 18th with a Morneau home run but leave Matthew LeCroy stranded on first when Koskie and Cuddyer fly out to end the rally and the Twins hope of a huge comeback victory. The game lasts 4 hours and 57 minutes with a reported attendance of 25,976. Justin Morneau and Cristian Guzman each had three hits including a home run. Joe Roa pitched five scoreless innings of relief allowing just one hit. Box Score
1998 – The Twins are down 3-0 before they come to bat in the Metrodome and Baltimore scores 3 more in the fifth and the Orioles are 6-3 winners. Sid Ponson wins and Brad Radke loses. The lone bright spot for Twins fans was Paul Molitor who was 5 for 5, including a double with 2 runs scored and a stolen base. Paul Molitor stole his 500th base in Minnesota’s 6-3 loss to Baltimore to become only the fifth player ever with 3,000 hits and 500 steals. Molitor joined Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Eddie Collins and Lou Brock. Box Score.
1988 – The Indians and the Twins were scoreless after 3 innings at the Metrodome with Allan Anderson on the mound for the local nine. In the top of the fourth inning with no one out, the Indians Ron Washington and Willie Upshaw singled to put runners on first and second and then Joe Carter smashed a long drive to the left field corner where Twins outfielder Dan Gladden snagged it for an out and wheeled and fired a strike to Steve Lombardozzi at 2B to nail Washington and then Lombo relayed the ball to Gene Larkin at first to get the runner there by at least 5 feet and completed the unusual 7-4-3 triple play. The Twins went on to win the game by a 7-2 score with Gladden going 3 for 5 with a run scored, a stolen base, and a RBI. Catcher Brian Harper was 4 for 4 and Gene Larkin hit a home run but both played second fiddle to Gladden on this day. Box Score
1987 – The Twins beat the Oakland A’s 9-2 at the Metrodome as Twins pitcher Steve Carlton wins the 329th and final game of his Hall of Fame career in front of 50,237 fans. Carlton pitches 8 2/3 innings giving up 2 runs while striking out two batters. Kirby Puckett leads the hitting barrage with a 4 for 4 day with two doubles and a homer, 4 runs, and 2 RBI. Tom Brunansky goes 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI. Box Score
1981 – The two sides reached an agreement on July 31 to end the 1981 MLB strike, and play resumed on August 9 with the All-Star Game, with regular season play resuming one day later.
1977 – No game today. Twins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 in the 35th annual HOF exhibition game at Cooperstown. The 1977 class was a large one that saw Al Lopez, Amos Rusie, Joe Sewell, Martin Dihigo, Pop Lloyd and Ernie Banks inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This is the third time the Twins have appeared in this game.
Twins_vs_Phillies_Cooperstown_game_1977_p1 Twins_vs_Phillies_Cooperstown_game_1977_p2
1974 – The Royals – Twins game at Royals Stadium is briefly interrupted by President Nixon’s resignation speech. The speech is broadcast after it begins and the next inning is delayed until the conclusion of the speech. The Twins prevail over the host Royals‚ 3 – 2 in 14 innings when Tony Oliva‘s sacrifice fly drives home Rod Carew. Twins starter Joe Decker goes the first 7 innings and reliever Bill Campbell pitches the final 7 innings of relief for the win. Campbell allows 5 hits and 6 walks but holds the Royals to one unearned run. Bobby Darwin hits the Twins only home run. The Twins commit two errors and get out hit but still come up smelling like roses. Box Score
1962 – With the score tied at three runs apiece at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, A’s rookie third baseman Ed Charles steals home with two out in the ninth to score the winning run in a A’s 4-3 walk-off win over the Twins. Ray Moore and Jerry Zimmerman were the Twins battery at the time. The Twins only had five hits, home runs by Harmon Killebrew and Bernie Allen and two hits by Zoilo Versalles. Jack Kralick went 7 innings allowing just 3 hits and 3 runs for the Twins and got a ND. The A’s only had four hits and committed two errors but came up winners on this day, baseball can be a funny game. Box Score
1961 – When the Twins started play today at Fenway Park they had lost eight-games in a row, four of them in walk-off fashion. Camilo Pascual held the Red Sox hitless for the first two innings but the Red Sox started the third with a Jackie Jensen double, a Don Buddin walk but Pascual got a groundout to third to register his first out of the inning. Pete Runnels drew a walk and the bases were loaded for center fielder Gary Geiger. Geiger took a called strike and then swung an an inside pitch hitting the ball low and hard toward the right field corner, somewhere between the grandstand and right fielder Bob Allison. After bouncing off the turf, the ball hit low on the grandstand wall and rolled along beside the curving structure, with Allison in awkward pursuit. Geiger was of course running around the bases and with a good slide at home was safe with an inside-the-park grand slam home run. Ed Rumill of the Christian Science Monitor wrote that this was believed to be a first ISP Grand Slam at Fenway Park. Pascual retired the side without further damage but he and the Twins found themselves down 4-0 after just three innings. The Twins bounced back with three in the fifth, three more in the sixth and held on for a 6-5 win with Pascual pitching a complete game, allowing just 6 hits and striking out 10 Red Sox batters for his ninth win of the season and ended the Twins long losing streak. In addition to pitching a complete game win, Pascual was 2 for 4 with a double and 3 RBI making him kind of a one-man show for Minnesota. The win brought the Twins record to 47-64 but they were 26.5 games behind the league leaders. Box Score
I found this newspaper clipping about former Detroit Tiger Willie Horton while doing some research.
A little note in the August 8 1961 Star Tribune Sports pages.pdf