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2023 – The Twins over came a 4-2 deficit after 5 innings and came back to beat the visiting Oakland A’s 6-4 at Target Field. Twins starter Pablo Lopez allowed 3 runs in 4.1 innings striking out six but took a no decision on this day. The fifth of six Twins pitchers on this day, Dallas Keuchel (2-1) got the win and Griffin Jax got his fourth save of the season. Ron Jeffers (13) and Edouard Julien (15) hit home runs for Minnesota while Max Kepler went 4 for 4. Box Score
2022 – The Twins shut out the White Sox at Target Field by a score of 4-0, recording their 16th shutout of the season, fifth-best in baseball. Bailey Ober (2-3) was the starter and winner, pitching 7.1 shutout innings, with two hits allowed, one walk and a career-high 10 strikeouts. Ober becomes only the third Twins pitcher (Bundy & Ryan) to record an out in the eighth inning or later this season. Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran finished the shutout, combining for 1.2 perfect innings with four strikeouts. The offense recorded 10 hits, including three from Jose Miranda, who singled twice and doubled (24). Matt Wallner hit his second career home run, a 341-foot shot to right field with a launch angle of 45 degrees and 7.0 seconds of hang time. A 4-0 shutout and still a dismal 2 doe 12 with RISP. Box Score
2021 – No game today, scheduled day off.
2020 – In the season finale (game 60) the Twins sent 40 year-old Rich Hill out to the Target Field mound to face off against Sonny Gray for the Cincinnati Reds. The first four innings were scoreless with each team having just one hit. The Twins put the first score on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning when Jake Cave led off with a walk. Miguel Sano struck out and Jorge Polanco made the second out of the inning on a weak grounder to first with Cave taking second on the play. A wild pitch to Marwin Gonzalez allowed Cave to move to third. Then Gray was called for a balk scoring Cave and the Twins were up 1-0. Gray ended up walking Gonzalez but stopped the bleeding by striking out Alex Avila. Hill retired the first two batters in the sixth but walked Joey Votto and his day was done after 93 pitches. Matt Wisler was brought in and promptly gave up a double to Eugenio Suarez and the game was tied at 1-1. The Twins retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a Eddie Rosario sac fly and the score was 2-1 for the Twins. The Reds pushed across a run in the top of the seventh off Twins reliever Tyler Clippard and it was now a 2-2 game and it remained that way through the rest of regulation play. Caleb Thielbar pitched the ninth and retired the first batter in the tenth inning for the Twins and Rocco Baldelli went to the pen again bringing in Sergio Romo. Don’t forget that 2020 extra-inning rules have a runner starting at second base. Romo, the Twins sixth pitcher of the day gave up a single, a stolen base and another single that scored a run for the Reds. Romo walked the next batter loading the bases with just one out. Romo then walked Votto forcing in a run and the Reds were up 4-2. Baldelli then removed Romo and brought in Jorge Alcala who gave up another single scoring the Reds third run of the inning although they did get the second out of the inning when a base-runner was caught trying to advance. Alcala then retired Mike Moustakas for the final out. Gonzalez led off the bottom of the tenth for Minnesota but the next three batters were retired and the Reds ended up beating the Twins 5-2. In spite of the loss the Twins ended up clinching the American League Central division title due to the White Sox’ 10-8 loss to the Cubs at Guaranteed Rate Field. Minnesota has won the division in two-straight seasons, doing so for the first time since 2009-10. The Twins have now won eight AL Central titles all-time (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2019, 2020). The locked in the number three seed in the American League Postseason picture and will face number six seed Houston in the best-of-three Wild Card Series on September 29 at Target Field. The Twins finished their sixtieth season of baseball in Minnesota with a 36-24 record. Box Score
2019 – The Twins score twice in the first, second and third innings and hold on for a 6-2 win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The win was the 100th win of the season for the Minnesota Twins and only the second time they have won 100 or more games in a season. The game was called after 6 1/2 innings due to a severe thunderstorm making the 1 hour and 54 minute affair the shortest game of the season. José Berríos (14-8) was the starter and winner, allowing two runs on six hits over 6 innings pitched, it marked his sixth career “complete game”. The offense recorded 11 hits, including three hits from Nelson Cruz. Ryan LaMarre hit his second home run of the season and Miguel Sanó, hitting lead-off hit his 34th homer. The Twins joined the Houston Astros, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers in the 100-win club. This marks the first ever time for four 100-win teams, second season with three 100-win teams in the AL (also 2018, BOS, NYY & HOU), first season with all division winners in a league with 100 wins. Rocco Baldelli passed Joe Cronin (99 wins in 1933) for most wins by a rookie manager in Twins/Senators franchise history. Baldelli became the seventh manager in baseball history to have won 100-plus games in his first season as MLB manager. Box Score
2018 – The Twins beat the visiting Tigers at Target Field with Gabriel Moya as the Opener and rookie Stephen Gonsalves as the Primary. Gonsalves entered the game down 1-0 and pitched 3.1 innings allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks but got his second win of the season. The Twins scored five runs in the third and four runs in the fifth and won the game 9-3. The offense was 6 for 9 with RISP. Jorge Polanco led the Twins hit parade with 3 hits including a double. Willians Astudillo set a career-high with four RBI by going 2 for 4 with a double and Tyler Austin chipped in 3 RBI with two doubles. Joe Mauer recorded his 600th career extra-base hit last night and is now one of four Twins on the all-time list with 600 XBH (since 1961). Killebrew had 728, Puckett 678, and Hrbek had 623. Former Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano took the loss. Box Score
2017 – The Twins lose to the Indians by a score of 4-2 on the road in Progressive Field. Adalberto Mejía (4-7) was the Twins starter and loser. The offense recorded just five hits with their only runs coming on a Jorge Polanco two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning. Meanwhile, the White Sox walked-off the Angels late last night in 10 innings, eliminating the Angels, securing the Twins the second AL Wild card spot. The Twins became the first team in baseball history to lose 100-plus games and make the post-season the next year. Box Score
2012 – No game today, scheduled day off.
2010 – The Kansas City Royals led the Twins 10-8 heading into the fifth inning and that ended up as the final score at Kauffman Stadium. As you might imagine, neither starter, Kevin Slowey for the Twins or Kyle Davies for the Royals went deep into the game. Jason Kubel who was 2 for 5 hit a home run, a double, scored two times and had 5 RBI. There was only one other major-league game in the past 10 years in which two teams combined for at least 18 runs through the first four innings and then neither team scored the rest of the way. Box Score
2004 – No game today, scheduled day off.
2003 – With a startling rally, the Tigers avoid equaling the modern major league record of 120 losses set by the expansion 1962 Mets. It takes one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history as Detroit beats the Twins at Comerica Park on a walk-off wild pitch from Jesse Orosco in the bottom of the ninth. The Twins were leading 8-0 going into the bottom of the fifth. The Tigers scored one in the 5th, three in the 7th, four in the 8th and 1 in the 9th to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The Twins fifth pitcher of the day, Jesse Orosco had retired the first two batters in the bottom of the 9th when he walked Alex Sanchez who proceeded to steal second base and then third base. Orosco then appeared to have struck out Warren Morris for the final out but catcher Rob Bowen could not catch the ball which was ruled a wild pitch and Sanchez scored the winning run in a 9-8 Tiger victory. This game was the last appearance in the big leagues for pitcher Jesse Orosco who pitched in a major league record 1,252 games over the span of 24 seasons. Orosco only pitched 8 of those games in a Twins uniform after being a Twins second round selection in the 1978 free agent draft. The hitting star for the Twins was outfielder Michael Ryan who went 4 for 4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI. Jacque Jones also hit a home run for the Twins. Brad Radke allowed one run in five innings and was in line for the win when he left the game but then it all went to heck in a hand-basket. Box Score
1998 – The Twins come from behind with three runs in the eighth for a win. Paul Molitor completes his Hall of Fame playing career with a single to center off Doug Jones for hit number 3,319 as the Twins beat the Cleveland Indians 6-2 at the Metrodome. Molitor finishes the game 2 for 4. In his final 22 games from September 1-27, Molitor has at least one hit in 20 of the 22 games. Matt Lawton and Otis Nixon also have two hits each. Twins starter Eric Milton bests Bartolo Colon on this Sunday afternoon. Only 12,049 fans show up to watch the Twins final game of 1998 and when all is said and done the Twins final record is 70-92 and they finish in fourth place once again. Box Score
1992 – Beating the Royals at the Metrodome, 4-0, the Twins win their 523rd game with Tom Kelly as their manager, making the Minnesota native the winningest skipper in team history. Shane Mack and Brian Harper provide the power when they each hit one out and John Smiley pitches a complete game five-hitter for his 15th win of the season and it takes him just 2 hours and 11 minutes to get the job done. Box Score
1987 – The Twins draw 53,106 fans for their day game against the Kansas City Royals making it their largest ever regular season crowd at the Metrodome. The Twins jump on Royals for five runs in the bottom of the first and 15 game winner Charlie Leibrandt doesn’t make it out of the first inning. Puckett, Gaetti and Hrbek all hit long balls for the Twins. Bert Blyleven pitches a complete game allowing just five hits in the 8-1 Twins win over the Royals and sends the fans home after just 2 hours and 12 minutes of action. After the win the Twins have a 6 game lead on the Royals and 7 games on the A’s. Box Score
1984 – The Twins blow a 3-0 lead and lose to the Indians 4-3 at Cleveland Stadium in front of only 3,752 fans in a game that will go down in Twins history as the Jamie Quirk game. The 1984 season was a rather full year for Quirk. Before the season began, he was released by the St. Louis Cardinals and named to their coaching staff. He was signed as a player by the Chicago White Sox in May and appeared in 3 games for the club before being sold to the Cleveland Indians on September 24. In Quirk’s only at bat as an Indian, Quirk entered this game in the top of the ninth as a catcher and in the bottom of the ninth inning with two out and the bases empty he hits a home run off Twins closer Ron Davis and the Indians win the game. It was the only hit Quirk had all in all of 1984. Home runs by Tim Laudner and Ron Washington account for all the Twins scoring. Mike Smithson went seven innings allowing five hits and two runs before Ron Davis showed up to close out the game…. The next day the Twins blow a 10-0 lead in Cleveland and go on to lose all four games in Cleveland and end the season with six straight losses and up losing the division championship to Kansas City by 3 games. Box Score
A Quirk of fate leads to Indians’ late win by Joseph Wancho
1982 – No game today, scheduled day off.
1981 – The Twins beat the Texas Rangers 5-2 in what turns out to be their final victory at Met Stadium. Pete Redfern is the winning pitcher had a three hit shutout going with two out in the ninth before he gave up two runs on a single and back-to-back doubles. Doug Corbett gets the final out and the save. John Castino and Gary Ward each hit two doubles in the game. The Twins go on to lose the final three games played at Met Stadium to the Kansas City Royals. Box Score
1976 – No game today, scheduled day off.
1973 – The California Angels beat the Minnesota Twins 5-4 in 11 innings at Anaheim Stadium, as Nolan Ryan allowed 10 hits, 7 walks and struck out 16 in a complete game effort, including No. 383 of the season, a modern major league record. Rich Reese was strike-out victim 383. The strikeout broke Sandy Koufax’s former single-season record of 382, set in 1965. Eric Solderholm was the only Twins hitter not to strikeout in the game, he walked twice and hit into two double-plays. Dave Goltz started for the Twins but lasted just two innings after giving up 4 runs on 5 hits. Bill Hands relieved him and pitched five scoreless innings allowing just one hit. Richie Scheinblum hit a walk-off double that scored Tom McCraw with the winning run off Twins reliever Bill Campbell who had already pitched 3.1 innings. Box Score
Twins versus Angels radio broadcast about 2 hours and 49 minutes long
1972 – The Twins have not played a game since the 24th due to rain but get to play two games today at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum against the Oakland A’s with the first game a make-up for the rain-out from the 25th. In game one the A’s start Ken Holtzman and the Twins counter with Bert Blyleven and the game turns out to be a pitchers duel with no one scoring. Holtzman leaves after 8 innings and Blyleven pitches on into the 11th inning. Matty Alou leads off the inning with a double but Bert retires Bert Campaneris on a line-out to first bringing up Sal Bando. Bando promptly singles to left scoring Alou and the A’s walk off the Twins 1-0 in a game that goes 11 innings but is over in 2 hours and 44 minutes. Blyleven goes 11.1 innings allowing 9 hits while striking out 9 and takes the loss and his record drops to 15-17. The Twins had 9 hits with Steve Brye and Rick Renick each getting two hits but the 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position was their downfall. Box Score game one.
Game two turns out to be another pitching duel as the Twins Ray Corbin faces off against the A’s Catfish Hunter. The Twins get on the board first with a run in the top of the fifth with a Glenn Borgmann single that scores Rich Reese but the A’s counter with a run in the seventh on a Campaneris RBI. Tied after nine innings the game ends in the bottom of the tenth on a walk-off RBI single by guess who? Sal Bando again and the A’s walk-off the Twins twice in one day and both WO hits were by Bando in extra innings. Corbin (8-9) took the loss after pitching 9.1 innings allowing 2 runs on 9 hits while striking out 5. The Twins had but six hits with Borgmann and Danny Thompson getting two each. Catfish notched the win to up his record to 21-7 going all ten innings allowing 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 11. Only 14,206 fans saw the DH and this game was over in just 2 hours and 29 minutes. Two extra-inning games and neither lasted more than 2 hours and 44 minutes. Nice! Game two box score
1971 – No game today, scheduled day off.
1967 – Playing the California Angels in the Twins final home game of the season manager Cal Ermer uses four catchers (Jerry Zimmerman, Russ Nixon, Hank Izquierdo, and Earl Battey) in the game and ties an AL record. I guess he wanted everyone to make an appearance because Ermer used a total of 22 players in the game but only four were pitchers. The Twins lose to the Angels 5-1 but still hold a one game lead with two games to play at Fenway Park against the Red Sox. Dean Chance starts for the Twins but gives up four runs on six hits and only makes it through three innings for his 13th loss of the season. Cesar Tovar had two hits, a RBI and a stolen base. The games in Boston are actually games 163 and 164 due to two tie games earlier in the season. Box Score
1965 – No game today, scheduled day off.
1962 – No Game Today, scheduled day off
1961 – Twins pitcher Al Schroll has a 10-0 lead and a no-hitter on the line at Met Stadium as he enters the ninth inning against Cleveland. Unfortunately; the first Indians batter, pinch-hitter Don Dillard singles to break up the no-no and then Schroll walks the next two batters to load the bases. Tito Francona then triples to left field and the shutout is gone too. The next batter Willie Kirkland grounds out but Francona scores to make it 10-4. Schroll retires the next two batters to claim the win and finish one of his two complete games in a Twins uniform. Schroll also has two hits and two RBI in the game. Harmon Killebrew is 3 for 5 with a home run (45) and 3 RBI, Billy Martin hits a home run and Bill Tuttle is 3 for 3 with a triple. Twins bats supported Schroll with a season high 16 hits with every starter getting at least one hit. The Twins win their 70th game against 86 losses. Box Score
