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2023 – TWINS GET SWEPT OUT OF ST. PETE: The Twins lost to the Rays at Tropicana Field by a score of 4-2, suffering their first three-game sweep of the season. Bailey Ober (3-3) was the starter and loser, allowing four runs on three hits in 5.1 innings pitched, three of the runs coming on three consecutive pitches in the fourth inning (BB, 3B, HR). The Twins hitting woes continued as they recorded just six hits, two coming via home runs by Carlos Correa (7) and Michael A. Taylor (8). To be fair, they actually out-hit the Rays 6 to 4. Minnesota did not draw a walk for the second time this season (also April 15 at New York-AL). The Twins have now lost a season-high five straight games and the loss drops their record to 31-32, under the .500 mark for the first time this season. The Twins are leaving the country to try their luck in Canada against the Toronto Blue Jays. The games in Tamps were quick, two last 2 hours and 7 minutes and the other was 2 hours and 17 minutes. The Rays have the best record in baseball and yet against the Twins in three games their total attendance was 38,119. Box Score
2022 – The Twins beat the Yankees at Target Field by a score of 8-1. Chris Archer (1-2) was the starter and winner, allowing one run on two hits in 5 innings pitched, tying a season high. Griffin Jax (2.0 IP), Emilio Pagán (1.0 IP) and Caleb Thielbar (1.0) combined to pitch 4.0 scoreless innings of relief with five strikeouts. The offense recorded 11 hits, giving them double-digit hit totals for the fourth time in their last five games. Jose Miranda set career-highs in both hits (3) and RBI (3). Byron Buxton (13) and Ryan Jeffers (4) both homered off Yankees starter Nestor Cortes. The seven-run win marked the largest margin of victory over the Yankees since a 10-1 victory on July 24, 2015. Carlos Correa was activated after missing seven games due to COVID. Gio Urshela has hit safely in six straight and in 18 of his last 22 games since May 14, hitting .346 (27-for-78) with five doubles, four home runs, 17 RBI, seven walks, a .395 on-base percentage, a .564 slugging percentage and a .959 OPS in that span. Box Score
2021 – After completing their seven-game roadtrip with a record of 3-4, the Twins began their six-game homestand at hot and and steamy Target Field. The thermometer said 95 degrees when the first pitch was thrown in 8-4 loss to the New York Yankees. Michael Pineda was the starter but did not factor into the decision, allowing two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings pitched, exiting after 76 pitches and a 2-1 lead. Taylor Rogers (2-3) took the loss. The Twins offense recorded 10 hits, went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left six stranded. Ryan Jeffers, Trevor Larnach and Rob Refsnyder each had two hits apiece. Four Twins errors didn’t help the situation either. Griffin Jax made his major league debut with one inning of work allowing three runs and two home runs. Box Score
2020 – The Twins take the day off and head for Baltimore to play the Orioles. In reality nothing has changed, all the games this season have been postponed/cancelled due to COVID-19. We have now missed 67 games.
2019 – Now and then as you cruise along you hit a speed bump and the Twins (42-21) did that today when they got beat by the (24-37) Detroit Tigers 9-3 at Target Field. Kyle Gibson (6-3) labored through five innings and 94 pitches giving up 8 hits, 2 walks and 5 runs. The Twins came up with just six hits off the Tigers pitchers, in a relievers only game for Detroit. Nelson Cruz had two of the Twins six hits including his tenth long ball of the season. Miguel Sano seems to be back in his “swing and a miss” ways and struck out three time in four PA’s. Ryan Eades a right handed pitcher and Twins 2nd round pick in 2013 made his major league debut by going two scoreless innings and striking out three. Box Score
2018 – The Los Angeles Angels break up a pitchers duel between the Angels Garrett Richards and Lance Lynn at Target Field by scoring twice in the seventh and once in the eighth for a 4-2 win over Minnesota. Robbie Grossman did hit one out for the Twins. Each team had seven hits but the Angels were 3 for 6 with RISP while the Twins were 0 for 3. Box Score
2014 – The Houston Astros beat the Twins 14-5 at Target Field and Twins pitchers give up four home runs, two of them grand slams (Chris Carter and Jon Singleton). This is the third time in Twins history an opponent has hit two grand slams in the same game against Minnesota. Each of these two grand slam events have occurred in a different Twins home ballpark. The Twins were only down 5-3 after six innings but then the Twins bullpen was rocked for 9 runs in the last three innings. Eduardo Nunez led the Twins attack with a 3 for 5 day including a home run. Box Score
Prior to the Twins – Astros game, the Twins organization unveiled their eighth statue at Target Field. The club revealed mascot T.C. Bear, who will join Rod Carew, Calvin Griffith, Carl and Eloise Pohlad, Tony Oliva, Kirby Puckett, Harmon Killebrew and Kent Hrbek, each already crafted in bronze. Of course, the ever-popular giant glove is still outside the gates for fans to photograph and enjoy.
2013 – The Twins beat the Nationals in 11 innings at Nationals Field when in the top of the 11th inning pinch-hitter Chris Hermann draws a walk and is sacrificed to second. Nats hurler Craig Stammen is told to walk Joe Mauer to face right fielder Ryan Doumit who comes through with a one-out single to score Hermann with the lead run. Glen Perkins notches the save and Josh Roenicke gets the win. Joe Mauer has a big day at the plate with a double and home run. Mauer’s home run, a fifth inning solo shot off Gio Gonzalez is his 100th career round-tripper. Box Score
2006 – The 26-33 fourth-place Twins, 11.5 games out of first, with Johan Santana on the mound beat the Mariners 7-3 at Safeco Field. The win sparks a stretch of 21 wins in their next 23 games and the Twins would go 71-33 the rest of the way, winning the division with a record of 96-66. Santana goes five for his sixth win of the season and is supported by Joe Mauer who goes 3 for 4 with two doubles and a RBI in a DH role. Box Score
1999 – With the Twins leading the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 in the bottom of the 8th inning at the Metrodome, Reds pitcher Dennys Reyes beans Twins outfielder Matt Lawton. Lawton who was 2 for 4 ends up with an orbital fracture to his right eye and a concussion and misses the next 42 games and does not play again until July 18th. When he returned, Lawton wore a face mask on his helmet but quickly got rid of it because it interfered with hitting. What he couldn’t shake for the rest of the season was the uncomfortable feeling against left-handed pitchers. Reyes ends up pitching for the Twins from 2006-2008. The Twins win the game 5-2 but they made it harder than necessary by going 4 for 18 with RISP and leaving 14 runners stranded. Catcher Javier Valentin was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI. Brad Radke evened his record at 5-5 with 8 solid innings of five-hit baseball while allowing just two earned runs. Box Score
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1995 – The 12-28 Twins pound the Tigers 9-2 at the Dome. Scott Leius, Pedro Munoz and Rich Becker all hit home runs and Leius gets 3 hits, scores 3 times, drives in 2 and steals a base. Twins starter Kevin Tapani goes 8 innings gives up 2 runs but none earned and strikes out seven Tiger batters on his way to the win. Box Score
The Twins move first baseman Dave McCarty, a Twins first round pick (third overall) in the 1991 draft to Cincinnati and receive pitcher John Courtright. Courtright never puts on a Twins uniform.
1978 – Twins Dave Goltz and White Sox left-handed knuckleballer Wilbur Wood are locked in a scoreless pitchers duel before the mighty whitey’s break through for a run off Goltz in the top of the seventh. The Sox score another run in the top of the eighth and the Twins finally score on a home run by DH Jose Morales who gets his first home run in a Twins uniform and his third hit of the game but when the smoke clears the White Sox have a 2-1 win at the Met. Box Score
Bob Horner, the College Player of the Year, is selected first in the free-agent draft by the Braves. The Twins who pick 16th selected high school shortstop Lenny Faedo. Kent Hrbek lasts until the 17th round. Of the 17 players that the Twins signed out of the draft, only Hrbek and Faedo played in the major leagues.
1975 – Triple-A Tacoma Twins win two protests, but finally lose game. This article was written by Kurt Blumenau.
1972 – No game today, scheduled day off.
1970 – No game today, scheduled day off.
1969 – The Twins came up on the short-end of a three-hour and 39 minute 12 inning game at the Met when they get beat 7-5 after they tied the game at 5 to 5 when they scored three in the bottom of the eighth inning when Harmon Killebrew greeted Senators reliever Dennis Higgins with a three-run blast. Killebrew had 4 RBI in the game giving him a league leading 45. Twins reliever Tommy Hall gave up a two-run home run to Del Unser (who the Twins drafted in 1965 but were unable to sign) in the 12th inning and took the loss when the Twins were kept off the scoreboard in the bottom of the 12th by Casey Cox. The Twins had long balls by Killebrew and Roseboro but the Senators had homers by Unser, Howard and Epstein. Al Worthington made his first appearance of the season after coming back from an aborted retirement in 1968. Box Score
1965 – The first place Twins up their record to 32-16 when Camilo Pascual wins his eighth straight game to up his record to 8-0 with a complete game effort in a 6-2 win over the Indians at Met Stadium. Harmon Killebrew and Earl Battey each hit home runs to power the Twins to victory. The Indians score their two runs with home runs by Rocky Colavito and Max Alvis. Box Score
The first ever free agent draft for high school and college age players takes place. The Twins pick in round one is ninth overall and they select University of Arizona shortstop Eddie Leon but Leon doesn’t sign. The Twins use their second pick which is 29th overall to take outfielder Del Unser who also refuses to sign with Minnesota. The Twins 4th round selection Graig Nettles had a nice 22 year MLB career but the Twins traded him to Cleveland after he played briefly for Minnesota between 1967-1969.
1961 – The Twins finally snap their 13 game losing streak when they beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 in Memorial Stadium. It is their first win since May 25th and their first road victory in this road trip that started in Washington on the 26th of May. The Twins took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Jim Kaat led off the inning with a single and Twins lead-off hitter Billy Martin hit his first home run wearing a Twins uniform. The Twins were out hit 10 to 7 but starter Jim Kaat kept the Orioles off the board for 7 innings before running into a bit of trouble in the eighth inning after retiring the first batter. The O’s followed with a double, walk and a single that scored a run and sent Kaat to the showers. Don Lee came in to retire Brooks Robinson and then Chuck Stobbs was brought in and he retired Jim Gentile. Stobbs picked up his second save when he kept the Orioles from scoring in the ninth. It turns out that it would be his final big league save. Kaat picked up the win, upping his record to 2-5 and he also had a good day with the bat going 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored. Martin also had two hits for Minnesota. The win got the Twins out of the cellar and put their record at 20-32 and in the process gave interim manager Sam Mele his first win as a manager. As an aside, the win also ends the Twins longest losing streak of the season. Box Score
Off the field owner Calvin Griffith was busy also signing Jim Roland to a $50,000 bonus and sending him to Wilson in the class B Carolina League.
