September 8 – This Day in Twins History

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2023 – The Twins beat the visiting New York Metropolitans at Target Field by a score of 5-2. Dallas Keuchel was the starter but did not factor into the decision, allowing two runs on three hits in 5 innings pitched, including a season-high six strikeouts. Emilio Pagán (1IP), Caleb Thielbar (1IP), Griffin Jax (1IP) and Jhoan Duran (1IP) combined to pitch 4 scoreless innings of relief, with one hit allowed and one walk. The offense had eight hits, two from both Royce Lewis and Carlos Correa. Correa hit his 27th double of the season and 18th home run, a ball that traveled 114.2 mph, his hardest-hit ball of the season. Box Score

Carlos Correa first W/O HR – credit to Brace Hemmelgarn Getty Images
Royce Lewis
Dallas Keuchel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 – It was battle right to the end but the Twins finally beat the Yankees in the Bronx by a score of 4-3, avoiding the four-game sweep. The win snapped an eight-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium as they won there for the first time since May 4, 2019. Sonny Gray was the starter but did not factor into the decision against his former team, allowing two runs on seven hits in 6 innings pitched, with one walk and seven strikeouts. Michael Fulmer earned his first save as a Twin with 0.2 innings pitched, the first save for a Twin in Yankee Stadium since Glen Perkins on July 13, 2013. Carlos Correa hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning. The Twins struck out 43 times over the four games in New York. The Twins completed their seven-game roadtrip with a record of 2-5 and head home to take on the first place Cleveland Guardians. The Twins have gone 40-29 at home and 29-38
on the road. Box Score

Sonny Gray
Caleb Thielbar
Michael Fulmer

 

 

 

 

 

Carlos Correa
Gary Sanchez

 

 

 

 

 

Queen Elizabeth II, Britian’s longest-reigning monarch died today after 70 years on the thrown. She was 96.

Queen Elizabeth II (Photo by Jonathan Brady – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

2021 – The Twins shut out the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field by a score of 3-0 for the second day in a row. This time Joe Ryan (1-1) was the starter and earned his first major league win (2nd career start), pitching seven shutout innings (85 pitches) with one hit allowed. He retired his first 19 batters faced and carried a perfect game through 6.1 innings, until allowing an Amed Rosario single to left field. Ryan became the first pitcher in AL history to throw 7 plus shutout innings while allowing no more than one baserunner in either his first or second career start. (STATS Inc.)  Ryan is the first Twins pitcher to retire 19-in-a-row to start a game since Francisco Liriano did it on June 12, 2011 vs. Texas. (Elias Sports Bureau).Ten of Ryan’s first 12 major league innings have been perfect frames. Caleb Thielbar and Tyler Duffey kept the one-hit shutout intact over the last two innings. The combined one-hitter for the Twins staff marked the 20th in club history and third this season, the previous two being April 3 at Milwaukee and April 23 vs. Pittsburgh. The three one-hitters in 2021 ties their 1973 total for most one-hitters in a single season. The Twins shut out the Tribe for the second-straight game, their first back-to-back blanks of an opponent since May 6 and 7, 2019 at Toronto (8-0 & 3-0). The last time they had three straight shutouts of an opponent was July 5-7, 2004 vs. Kansas City (9-0, 4-0 & 12-0). The Twins had just six hits but four were for extra bases as Miguel Sanó hit his 25th home run of the season and Josh Donaldson (21), Nick Gordon (7) and Ryan Jeffers (7) chipped in with doubles. The Twins are now 4-2 on the road-trip. Box Score

Twins starter Joe Ryan in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians, 09/08/21 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Caleb Thielbar
Tyler Duffey with credit to MN Twins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 – The short one day trip to St. Louis was originally scheduled to be a two day trip but the league asked the teams to play a DH which would then give the Cardinals a day off, only their second since August 15. The Cardinals were basically shutdown from COVID issues from July 30 to August 14 and since then, have had to play day in and day out. Playing their fourth doubleheader in this short 60 game season the Twins sent Jose Berrios out to the Busch Stadium III mound in game one to take on Carlos Martinez and the Cards. Berrios took a 5-0 lead into the sixth inning but walked the first batter and then allowed a two-run homer to Tommy Edman. When the next batter singled Berrios was done for the day after 101 pitches. During his five innings of work Berrios allowed 3 runs on 4 hit and 2 walks while KOing 8. Matt Wisler and Sergio Romo pitched the final two innings without allowing any further damage and the Twins had a 7-3 win in the first game of the doubleheader out-hitting the Cardinals 11 to 4. Josh Donaldson (3) had a three-run home run, Miguel Sano (10) had a two-run home run and Nelson Cruz (14) had a solo blast. Berrios got the win upping his record to 4-3 on the season. Box Score

Josh Donaldson
Miguel Sano
Nelson Cruz

 

 

 

 

 

In game two of the twin-bill Randy Dobnak got the start and the Twins got off to a quick 2-0 lead in the second when Brent Rooker hit his first big league home run, a two run shot off Daniel Ponce de Leon. In the third inning the wheels totally fell off for Dobnak who is known as a control pitcher when he allowed a single, hit the next batter, allowed a walk, hit the next batter forcing in a run, walked the next guy forcing in a second run run, struck out the next batter for the first out, next batter reached on a fielders choice scoring the third run, a single scored run number 4, a force out at home was out number two and Baldelli finally came out to rescue Dobnak and brought in Caleb Thielbar who promptly walked his first batter forcing in run number 5 of the inning. THEN this happens. Thielbar and Cardinals batter Matt Wieters had an incredible 19 pitch at bat before Thielbar finally got him to fly out to deep center with the bases loaded and five runs already in. The 19-pitch Wieters at bat against Thielbar was the most pitches thrown by a Twins pitcher since at least 1980 according to Baseball-Reference. Brad Radke and Seattle’s Darren Bragg hooked up for a 17-pitch at bat in 1995, the previous high for a Twins pitcher. The Twins scored two more times but in spite of out-hitting the Cardinals 7-5 could not overcome the five run inning and lost the game by a score of 6-4. It took six Twins pitchers to pitch six innings, allowing six runs on six walks while striking out six and five hits. Dobnak (6-3) took the loss, as it turned it he was given one more start and than jerked from the starting rotation. Not a lot of patience for a pitcher that had been stellar to this point. Nelson Cruz was 3 for 3 with a home run. This game was number 45 and marked the 3/4 point of the 2020 season. Game 2 of this doubleheader marked Nelson Cruz‘ 162nd game as a member of the Twins, within those games, he’s hitting .318 (191-for-600) with 31 doubles, 56 home runs, 139 RBI and 75 walks, also has a .402 on-base percentage and a 1.052 OPS. The 27-18 Twins are half a game behind the White Son & Indians and head for home and have two days off before starting a three-game homestand against the Cleveland Indians. Box Score

Brent Rooker
Randy Dobnak
Caleb Thielbar

 

 

 

 

 

2019 – The visiting Cleveland Indians who are in hot pursuit beat the Twins 5-2 on a cool 57 degree overcast Sunday afternoon and won their second game of the three games series. Injuries are mounting for the Twins and the loss dropped the Twins lead to 5.5 games with the hot Washington Nationals flying in to meet the Twins next. Randy Dobnak (0-1) was the starter and loser, allowing two runs on three hits in 2.0 innings pitched. The offense recorded just five hits, highlighted by a Mitch Garver solo home run in the fourth inning, his 29th. LaMonte Wade Jr. reached three times, walking twice and earning his first major league hit, an RBI-single in the seventh inning. Byron Buxton flew to California to have his shoulder examined. Buxton hurt his shoulder back on August 1 and has spent time on the IL but appeared in five games as a defensive replacement between September 1-7. He has not batted since August 1. Box Score

Mitch Garver
LaMonte Wade get fist MLB hit – credit to David Berding/Getty Images
Ryan LaMarre

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In an off the field move the Twins acquired former (2018) Twins outfielder Ryan LaMarre from the Atlanta Braves in a cash transaction to help out with outfield injury issues.

2018 – The 25,814 Twins fans at Target Field to watch the Twins take on the Kansas City Royals came within three outs of witnessing history but Royals rookie Jorge Lopez came up short in his bid to pitch a perfect game against Minnesota. With the Twins down 4-0 and a perfect game on the line, Max Kepler was the first Twins batter in the bottom of the ninth and he drew a five pitch walk ruining the perfect game. Robbie Grossman was the next hitter and he stroked a clean single to center that just eluded the glove of Jorge Lopez and moved Kepler to third base, now the no-hitter was gone too. Royals skipper Ned Yost removed Lopez from the game since Lopez had lost the no-hitter and had thrown 110 pitches and Twins fans gave Lopez a nice ovation appreciating his fine effort. Ehire Adrianza was up next and he hit a sac fly to center that scored Kepler and broke up the shutout but the next two Twins batters were retired and the Royals won the game 4 to 1. Twins starter Jose Berrios went 6 innings allowing the one run on three hits and took the loss.  Box Score

Jorge Lopez during perfect game effort on 090818 – credit Getty Images

 

Max Kepler
Robbie Grossman
Ehire Adrianza

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016 – No game today, scheduled day off.

2014 – No game today, scheduled day off.

2012 – The Twins retire manager Tom Kelly‘s number 10 prior to the game with the Cleveland Indians at Target Field in front of 33,698 fans. Kelly, 62, joins Harmon Killebrew (No. 3, 1975), Carew (No. 29, 1987), Oliva (No. 6, 1991), Hrbek (No. 14, 1995), Kirby Puckett (No. 34, 1997) and Blyleven (No. 28, 2011) as the seventh Twin to have his number retired by the organization. The Twins, in conjunction with all of Major League Baseball, retired Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 in 1997. The Minnesota born (Graceville) Kelly is Minnesota’s all-time leader in managerial wins with 1,140, a figure that ranks 43rd on Major League’s all-time list. He also excelled in the postseason, with a record of 16-8 that included the franchise’s World Series titles in 1987 and 1991. Kelly was also presented with a few special gifts from the Twins, as he was given a free trip to the Kentucky Derby while the Twins also announced they will rename Field 6 at their Fort Myers Spring Training complex after him. Minnesota native (born in Graceville) Tom Kelly, played in 49 games for the Twins in 1975 primarily at first base and hit .181 in 147 plate appearances with one home run. Kelly who was known as “TK” also coached for the Twins and did some fill-in color work for the Twins TV broadcasts. Twins Retired Numbers

Former Minnesota Twins manager Tom Kelly, right, hugs bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek after greeting players as his number is retired in a ceremony inducting him into the Twins’ Hall of Fame prior to a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in Minneapolis. Kelly managed the Twins to two World Series titles. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

 

The game against the Cleveland Indians also went well as Minnesota native Cole De Vries pitched six scoreless innings allowing just 3 hits and was credited with the win. The win turned out to be the final win he would get as a Minnesota Twin. Relievers Brian Duensing, Jared Burton and Glen Perkins kept the Indians off the board the rest of the way. Ben Revere was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases. Box Score

Cole De Vries
Ben Revere

 

 

 

 

 

2011 – No game today, scheduled day off.

2008 – No game today, scheduled day off.

2005No game today, scheduled day off.

1980No game today, scheduled day off.

1977No game today, scheduled day off.

1975No game today, scheduled day off.

1961 – Only 5,594 fans show up at Municipal Stadium to see the ninth place Kansas City Athletics beat the eighth place Minnesota Twins 6-4. The Twins out hit KC 11 to 7 but two Zoilo Versalles errors (numbers 23 and 24) lead to four unearned runs for the opponents. Harmon Killebrew hits his 40th home run and gets two RBI but it won’t be enough. Versalles is 3 for 4 and scores once but on this day his glove lets the team down. Starter Jim Kaat goes 6.2 innings allowing 5 runs but only 1 is earned and he takes his 15th loss of the season. John Wyatt makes his major league debut for KC with two scoreless innings of relief and earns his first big league save, by the time his career is over he will have 103 saves. Box Score

Harmon Killebrew
Zoilo Versalles
Jim Kaat

 

 

 

 

 

1958 – In a special meeting of American League owners in Chicago, Washington owner Calvin Griffith succumbs to pressure from other AL owners and that night advises Minneapolis officials that he is staying in Washington DC. 

 

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