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2023 – The Twins shut out the Reds by a score of 7-0 at Great American Ball Park, marking Minnesota’s 12th shutout this season. Kenta Maeda (6-7) was the starter and winner, pitching 5 shutout innings with one hit allowed, one walk and eight strikeouts. Maeda improved to 3-0, 2.08 ERA (17.1 IP, 4 ER) with 18 strikeouts in his last three starts. The offense recorded 11 hits, including multiple hits from Edouard Julien (2), Willi Castro (2) and Matt Wallner (2). Castro hit his eighth home run of the season and drove in two of the club’s six RBI. Minnesota also walked eight times, two short of their season high. Box Score
2022 – The Twins lose to the Guardians at Progressive Field by a score of 11-4. Sonny Gray (8-5) was the starter and loser, allowing four runs on five hits in 2.0 innings pitched. Gray ended up on the IL and is probably done for the season. Ronny Henriquez made his major league debut in relief of Gray, allowing three runs on four hits in 4 innings pitched, with two walks and two strikeouts. The 22-year-old became the first player born in the 2000s to play for the Twins. The offense recorded 10 hits, two from Carlos Correa, Nick Gordon and Gilberto Celestino. Gordon added a home run, his ninth of the season and third in his last six games. Well, that was not a fun visit to Cleveland, the Twins are now off to Kansas City to try their luck against the Royals sitting in third place with a 73-74 record and 7 games out. Wait until next year! Box Score
2021 – The Twins lost to the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre by a score of 5-3. With the loss, the Twins fell to a season-low 20 games under .500. The Twins sent Luke Farrell (1-1) to the mound as their Opener, but the Jays jumped all over him scoring allowing all five of their runs in the first inning on seven hits, including a two-run homer from Bo Bichette. The Twins bullpen combined to pitch 7 scoreless innings with four hits allowed and eight strikeouts, highlighted by Juan Minaya, who fanned five with one walk and one hit allowed over 2 innings. The offense recorded just four hits, all extra-base hits. Ben Rortvedt homered (3) while Byron Buxton (16), Miguel Sanó (21) and Nick Gordon (8) all doubled off former teammate José Berríos (12-8) who was credited with the win. The Twins are now off to Chicago to face the Cubs (after a day off) and and wrap up inter-league play for 2021. Box Score
2020 – The Twins beat the Cubs last night at Wrigley Field by a score of 8-1. It has been 11 years (and five losses) since the Twins last won a game in Wrigley Field on June 13, 2009. Michael Pineda (2-0) was the starter and winner, allowing one run on four hits in 5 innings pitched (92 pitches). The bullpen of Tyler Duffey, Matt Wisler and Tyler Clippard combined to pitch the final 4 scoreless innings. The offense recorded 10 hits, three going for home runs by Eddie Rosario (12), Miguel Sanó (13) and Josh Donaldson (6). The win secured the Twins (32-22) a playoff berth for the second-straight season, marking the first time since winning the AL Central in 2009 and 2010. The Twins have gone 2-4 through six games on their seven-game road trip, losing three of four on the South Side, followed by a loss and a win the last two nights on the North Side. Tonight they will complete their 2020 road schedule with the three-game series finale at Wrigley Field. Box Score
2019 – The Twins fall behind 3-0 but come back to beat the Royals by a score of 8-5, their 10th win over KC this season. Starter Kyle Gibson had a day to forget, allowing three runs in 1.2 innings pitched throwing 52 pitches with four walks. The offense recorded 10 hits, four being home runs from Mitch Garver (31), Nelson Cruz (38, 39) and Miguel Sanó (31). Cruz’s multiple home runs extended the Twins MLB record of most instances with a player having a multi-homer game to 32 times. It also marked Cruz’s seven multi-homer game this season, a new single-season career-high as it passes Harmon Killebrew’s six multi-homer games in 1964, setting a Twins record. Box Score
2018 – The Twins use the Opener strategy for the sixth time and come up with a 8-2 win over the Tigers at Comerica Park giving them a sweep of the three game series and four road wins in a row on the current trip. The Twins score four times in the second inning on just three singles, a walk and a balk and never look back. Gabriel Moya Opened again and pitched a scoreless first and Stephen Gonsalves came in as the Primary pitcher and threw 78 pitches during a scoreless six innings allowing just one hit and one walk earning him his first major league win against two losses. Alan Busenitz who has struggled of late gave up two runs to Detroit in the ninth inning. Ehire Adrianza was 3 for 4 with two doubles, three runs scored and a RBI and Robbie Grossman had three hits and two runs scored. Twins pitchers allowed the Tigers just 15 hits and six runs in the three-game series. Box Score
2016 – No game today, scheduled day off.
2011 – The Twins lost 6-4 to the Yankees in Yankee Stadium in a make-up game that was rained out back on April 6. It turned out however; to be an event filled day as Yankee closer Mariano Rivera set an all-time closer save record when he saved career game number 602 breaking Trevor Hoffman’s mark of 601. Mariano Rivera was the best closer I ever saw, a sure Hall of Famer when his time comes. Twins rookie first baseman Chris Parmelee was the unlucky victim as he watched strike 3 go by for the final out of the game. Twins outfielder Ben Revere set a Twins record for rookies by stealing his 32nd base in the third inning. Revere ended his rookie season with 34 stolen bases. Luis Rivas previously held the record when he had swiped 31 in 2001 during his rookie season. Michael Cuddyer and Chris Parmelee hit home runs for Minnesota and Scott Diamond the Twins starter. took the loss. Box Score
2010 – A crowd of over 40,000 showed up at Target Field to watch the first place Twins take on the Oakland A’s. The Twins were resting some players due to injuries and others to get them ready for the playoffs. The A’s went with rookie lefty Bobby Cramer and the Twins went with Francisco Liriano. Oakland jumped out to a quick lead in the top of the first when they scored three times on four hits, a walk and and error. There was a unusual occurrence in the Twins half of the fourth that I will let Twins official scorer Stew Thornley explain.
The Twins had Delmon Young on first with no out in the fourth, Jim Thome hit a fly to center. Rajai Davis caught it, but dropped the ball as he tried to transfer it to his throwing hand. Umpire James Hoye signaled safe, and Young hustled into second as Davis threw the ball to second-baseman Mark Ellis to try and force him out. Oakland manager Bob Geren came out to argue, and the umpires huddled. Manager Ron Gardenhire also had come out and began arguing with the umpires and was eventually ejected by John Hirschbeck, indicating that the umpires had overturned the call and ruled that Davis had made the catch. Eventually both Thome and Young returned to the dugout, indicating that the umpires had ruled a double play – that after Davis had thrown the ball in, Ellis tagged Young, who was ruled out for not having tagged up at first.
The Twins scored their only two runs in the sixth inning on solo home runs by Michael Cuddyer and Jim Thome as the A’s held on for a 6-2 win. Cramer (2-0) got he win, one of only two he would get in his short big league career. Liriano (14-8) took the loss. Ben Revere was the only Twin with more than one hit. As noted above, Twins skipper Ron Gardenhire added another ejection to his list. Box Score
2009 – The Twins beat the Tigers, 6 – 2 thanks to their quirky ballpark. Trailing 2 – 1 in the 8th against Detroit ace Justin Verlander in one of the last-ever regular-season games to be played in the Metrodome, Orlando Cabrera hits a routine fly ball that left fielder Don Kelly loses against the roof and lets bounce for a double. Two batters later, Jason Kubel hits a two-run single as Minnesota rallies for five runs to win the game and reduce the Tigers’ lead in the AL Central to 2 games. Jesse Crain snatches victory from the jaws of defeat and starter Carl Pavano who went the first seven innings get a ND. Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer hit home runs. Box Score
2008 – The Twins get pounded by the 90-61 Tampa Bay Rays 11 to 1. Nick Blackburn’s start was a short one, just 1.1 innings and 42 pitches when he walks 3, allows 6 hits and 6 runs and takes his 10th loss of the season. Denard Span had 2 of the Twins 7 hits and Joe Mauer got the only RBI. With the Twins getting blown out, Ryan Jorgensen replaced Joe Mauer as catcher and had his only plate appearance wearing a Twins uniform later in the game and flew out to right field. It was Jorgensen’s last big league appearance. Box Score
Major League Baseball’s new instant replay system produces its first reversal when Tampa Bay Rays’ Carlos Pena had a two-run double changed to a three-run homer during the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins. The initial umpire call was based on fan interference, which the video replay showed was not the case. Boof Bonser gives up the long ball in relief of Nick Blackburn.
2002 – No game today, rained out and will not be made up. Twins rookie outfielder Mike Ryan gets 2 hits in the first inning of his major league debut in Comerica Park against the Detroit Tigers and Tigers starter Nate Cornejo. In what was a nine-run first inning for Minnesota, Ryan singled in his first two big league at-bats, scored twice and drove in two runs. Pretty impressive feat for a rookie before he even took the field. But the glow of the feat was short-lived when his hits and Minnesota’s 9-0 lead were wiped out when rain forced the game to be called before the top of the third inning. His big league debut would have to wait for another day (September 20).
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In other news, the 2002 American League Central Division Champion Minnesota Twins have been named USA Today Organization of the Year by the national newspaper. The newspaper cite the organization’s commitment to scouting and developing players and the current success of the team’s farm system.
1977 – No game today, scheduled day off.
1975 – The Twins lose to the California Angels 1-0 at Anaheim Stadium despite getting 12 hits and 4 walks. Bert Blyleven was the loser after giving up only 3 hits and 2 walks. A lead off walk by Mickey Rivers in the fourth inning proved to be Bert’s downfall. Rivers stole 2B, moved to 3B on a ground out and scored on a single by Dan Briggs. Briggs was then caught stealing for the final out of the inning but the damage was done. Angels starter Joe Pactwa was appearing in his second big league game and making his first start went 7 innings allowing 9 hits for his first and only big league win. Pactwa appeared in only two more games in the big leagues. Pactwa was actually an outfielder by trade but took up pitching mid-way through his career. Twins first baseman Rod Carew was 4 for 5 with a double and stolen base and Dan Ford went 3 for 3. Box Score
1974 – No game today, scheduled day off.
1972 – Cesar Tovar became the first Twin to hit for the cycle at Metropolitan Stadium when he accomplished this feat against Texas in a 5-3 walk-off win. Cesar became only the second player in major league history to have hit a game-ending home run while hitting for the cycle in the same game, Ken Boyer did it in 1961. Since Tovar accomplished the feat, it has been done by George Brett in 1979, Dwight Evans in 1984, and Carlos Gonzalez in 2010. Brett’s homer was the only one of the five that did not “complete” the cycle (he had homered earlier in the game). Bobby Darwin helped the Twins cause with two hits in 4 AB’s including a home run and 2 RBI. Attendance to watch Tovar’s feat? Just 4,240. Dick Woodson started for Minnesota by Dave LaRoche pitched the final 3.1 hit-less innings for the win. Box Score
1968 – No Game Today
1967 – Twins starter Dave Boswell pitches a two-hitter but walks six to beat the Kansas City A’s 8-2 at Municipal Stadium. Catcher Jerry Zimmerman who is hitting under .180 goes 3 for 4 with a sacrifice and also notches 2 RBI. None of the Twins 14 hits were home runs but Bob Allison like Zimmerman had three hits in the game. It was also the last time that the Twins played the A’s in Kansas City as the A’s moved to Oakland for the 1968 season. No wonder the attendance at the game was a pathetic 3,515. Box Score
1966 – No Game Today
1963 – The Twins lose to the Detroit Tigers 8-6 in 13 innings at Met Stadium in a see-saw game. During the 4th inning of this game Twins catcher Paul Ratliff hits a home run off Tiger hurler and future Fall of Famer Jim Bunning. This is the only home run in Twins history hit by a player under the age of 20. In addition to Ratliff, Don Mincher and Bernie Allen also hit home runs and Bob Allison led the team with three hits in six AB’s. Box Score
1961 – On a misty evening at Griffith Stadium only 1,980 baseball fans show up to watch their new Washington Senators take on the old Washington Senators who we all now know as the Minnesota Twins and they witnessed a 3-1 Twins win over their new team. Twins starter rookie Jim Kaat pitched a complete game allowing just one run on six hits while fanning six Senators. Kaat is really starting to come into his own, posting win number 9 against 15 learning experiences. The Twins who were held to seven hits themselves took an early 2-0 lead in the second on a ground-rule double by Earl Battey, a run-scoring triple by Bill Tuttle and a RBI single by Zoilo Versalles. Versalles who missed the last few games due to tiredness had another RBI in the seventh inning. Joe McClain started for Washington and went seven solid innings but took his eighteenth defeat of the season. Box Score
