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2023 – The Twins lost to the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field by a score of 3-1. Louie Varland (2-1) was the starter and loser, allowing three runs on seven hits in 6 innings pitched, with no walks and three strikeouts. All three runs allowed came in the third inning on three-consecutive extra-base hits from Kevin Kiermaier (home run), George Springer (double) and Bo Bichette (home run). Emilio Pagán pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts. The offense recorded five hits and walked a
season-high nine times. Kyle Garlick drove in the club’s only run with a sixth inning double. The game marked the first time the Twins lost while drawing nine-plus walks in a game since September 14, 2020 at Chicago-AL, losing 3-1. They have lost just five games since 2010 when drawing at least nine walks. Box Score
2022 – The Twins lost to the visiting Kansas City Royals at Target Field by a score of 3-2, marking just their second loss this season (24-2) when leading after seven innings. The Twins outhit the Royals 12-6, also their second loss this season (20-2) when outhitting an opponent. Devin Smeltzer was the starter but did not factor into the decision, pitching a career-high 7 shutout innings with two hits allowed, one walk and six strikeouts. But Tyler Duffey who came in to pitch the eighth inning allowed three runs on four hits and a walk and the Royals took a 3-2 lead. The Twins loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth on three singles but came up empty. The Twins also put runners on first and third in the ninth but came up empty there too. The Twins left 12 runners on the bases. Duffey (2-3) took the loss. 30 consecutive at-bats without a hit by Byron Buxton, a career-long skid ended with an infield hit in the ninth inning. Box Score
2021 – The Twins beat the Orioles at Target Field by a score of 3-2, securing the three-game sweep, their first of the season. Michael Pineda (3-2) was the starter and winner, allowing one run on three hits (all in the first inning) in 6 innings pitched with a season-high eight strikeouts. Twin bats recorded just four hits, earning only their fifth victory of the season when being out-hit (5-22). Miguel Sanó provided all the offense with a three-run homer in the sixth inning, his ninth homer of the season and seventh in his last 13 games. Hansel Robles recorded his third save of the season. The 20-29 Twins now have a day off before they face the visiting Kansas City Royals and try to extend their four-game winning streak. Box Score
2020 – The Twins would have been taking on the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium today and that would have been fun but sadly we all know it did not happen. So far all games this season have been postponed/canceled due to COVID-19. We have now missed 55 games.
2019 – The Twins shut out the White Sox on a sunny 68 degree day by a score of 7-0, earning their seventh sweep and winning their sixth straight game. Jake Odorizzi (7-2) was the starter and winner, pitching 5.1 shutout innings with one hit, one walk and nine strikeouts. Max Kepler (12) and Eddie Rosario (16) each homered as Kepler had the only multi-hit game for the Twins. The pair of home runs gave the Twins a league-leading 104 on the season. The Twins sold out their third game of the season with 39,913 in attendance. The Twins 36th win puts them 20 games over the .500 mark and gives them a ten game lead over second place Cleveland. Box Score
2018 – Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino hit a two-out walk-off homer off Twins reliever Matt Magill in the 12th inning and lifted the Mariners to a 4-3 win and their fourth walk-off win of the season Saturday night at Safeco Field. Jake Odorizzi was the starter for the Twins but did not factor into the decision, allowing three runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings pitched. Max Kepler and Eddie Rosario each had two hits including a double and a RBI. It marked the seventh walk-off loss for the Twins this season, fifth via a home run. Box Score
2016 – No game today, scheduled day off.
2014 – In his second season in the big leagues Twins center fielder Aaron Hicks announces that he is done with switch-hitting and will only hit from the right side after posting a .187 batting average in 388 big league at bats. The Twins brain trust says OK and keeps him in the line-up. Later in June while on a rehab in New Britain Hicks announces that he is uncomfortable hitting just right-handed and will resume switch-hitting. GM Terry Ryan said he is leaving it up to Hicks saying “It’s the right thing to do, to support the player”. At Target Field the Twins lose to the Rangers 7-2. The Twins 7-9 hitters, Kurt Suzuki, Aaron Hicks, and Eduardo Escobar each get two hits but it is not nearly enough and Twins starter Kevin Correia logs the defeat and his record falls to 2-6. Box Score
2011 – No game today, scheduled day off. The Twins held a beautiful memorial service for Harmon Killebrew who passed away on May 17. In front of 45 Killebrew family and friends, several Hall of Famer’s, many current and former Major League players and executives, including Commissioner Bud Selig, joined an estimated 4,000 fans on Thursday night to honor the late Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew in a beautiful and touching public memorial at Target Field. Hall of Famer Hank Aaron and new Cooperstown electee Bert Blyleven were also present and were joined by a slew of Killebrew’s former teammates and friends: Tony Oliva, Frank Quilici, Mudcat Grant, Frank Kostro, Rick Reese, Dick Stigman, Jim Nettles, Julio Becquer, John Castino and Juan Berenguer. Even those who played after Killebrew’s final season in 1975 paid their respects, including Kent Hrbek, Jack Morris, Dan Gladden, Al Newman, Ron Coomer, Corey Koskie, Tim Laudner, Matt Tolbert, Jim Thome, Molitor, Cuddyer and Morneau. The event was emceed by Twins broadcasters John Gordon and Dick Bremer. There were wonderful speeches by Jim Kaat, Commissioner Bud Selig, Rod Carew, Paul Molitor, Michael Cuddyer, and Justin Morneau. Former Twins star pitcher Jim “Mudcat” Grant sang one of Killebrew’s favorite songs, “What a Wonderful World” and there was not a dry eye in the crowd. Killebrew’s wife Nita speaking in public for the first time since Harmon passed away gave a wonderful talk and told the crowd “Harmon’s body is buried in his hometown of Payette, Idaho, his soul is up in the ballpark of heaven, but his heart will always be here in Minnesota,” It was simply a fitting farewell to the man they called “Killer,” who showed nothing but humility and grace off the field. Minnesota Governor proclaimed this day as “Harmon Killebrew Day”. The National Baseball Hall of Fame allowed Killebrew’s iconic bronze plaque to be displayed on Target Plaza before the ceremony, the last time a plaque made a similar journey was back in 2002 for Ted Williams memorial service in Fenway Park. Prior to the service, friends and former teammates met at the Mall of America, took a special decorated number 3 train from the Mall of America, where Met Stadium once stood, to the Metrodome and on to Target Field, bridging the history of baseball in Minnesota. They all entered Target Field through Gate 3.
Harmon Killebrew Memorial Services images
2008 – No game today, scheduled day off.
2006 – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signs the Twins ballpark (Target Field) legislation into law on the Metrodome field prior to the Twins-Mariners game. As a special thank you to fans, everyone attending the game received a voucher good for a complimentary soft drink and hot dog.
As far as the game was concerned, the Twins made quick work of the Mariners and won the game 3-1 in just 2 hours and 12 minutes. Joe Mauer hit the games only home run and Francisco Liriano was awarded the win but he only went five innings. Box Score
2003 – No game today, scheduled day off.
1998 – No game today, scheduled day off.
1994 – No game today, scheduled day off.
1993 – On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, the Minnesota Twins were at the Oakland Coliseum to play the second of a two-game series against the Oakland Athletics. Twins manager Tom Kelly had penciled in Kevin Tapani as his team’s starter, while A’s manager Tony La Russa picked Ron Darling. Darling was struggling, going winless in eight starts. This was their first series since 1986 in which neither team was “in contention.” The Twins, at 17-25, were mired in an eight-game losing skid. The A’s weren’t faring much better at 18-23, though they had won four of their last five. After a 49-minute rain delay, the crowd of 18,276 finally saw the game start at 1:04 P.M. The A’s scored first when they scored in the bottom of the second inning on a Tapani wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead. It was the first of 11 runs that Oakland would score as they scored at least one run in every inning from the second through the ninth. The Twins scored their runs in bunches, five in the third inning, four in the eight inning and three more in the ninth for a total of in cribbage terms, a bush(el) in baseball terms, 12. When all was said and done the Twins were 12-11 winners and George Tsamis (1-0) the sixth twins pitcher of the day had earned his first and what would turn out his only major league win. Tsamis would go on to be the Saint Paul Saints manager for many (2003-2020) years . Joe Boever (1-1) one of seven A’s pitchers was assigned the loss. Kent Hrbek (7) hit the Twins only home run. Kirby Puckett was 4 for 6 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored. Box Score
George Tsamis records a win in ‘wet and wild’ matchup with Athletics by Stew Thornley
1978 – No game today. Todays game at Met Stadium with the Kansas City Royals was rained out and rescheduled as part of a twin-bill on August 16.
1977 – No game today, scheduled day off.
1969 – The Twins got another complete game out of their starter Jim Perry (4-1) and whipped up on the Washington Senators at RFK Stadium by a score of 7-1. Rod Carew was 2 for 4 with two home runs and four RBI while Tony Oliva was 3 for 5 with a double. Perry allowed nine hits, one of them was a Frank Howard home run that accounted for the Senators lone run. The Twins played well in the field too, turning four double-plays. The Twins are now 24-16 and two games in front of Oakland in the AL West. Box Score
1968 – The Twins trailed the Boston beantowners 4-3 going into the bottom of the ninth at the Met with Sparky Lyle on the mound. Harmon Killebrew who was playing first base led off the inning with a home run but then Lyle buckled down and got Rich Rollins and Bob Allison on ground outs and Ted Uhlaender stepped up to the plate and took Lyle deep for the second Twins home run of the inning and all of a sudden the Twins had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat making Al Worthington a winner. Twins starter Jim Merritt who pitched 6 innings pitched well except for the fourth inning when he allowed 5 hits including a home run by Ken Harrelson and allowed the Red Sox to score four times. Box Score
In off the field activities, Billy Martin leaves the Twins coaching ranks to take over as manager of the AAA Denver Bears of the Pacific Coast league. Martin replaces Johnny Goryl who was let go several days earlier. Billy plans to gain some managerial experience in hopes of landing a big league managing job. The Bears end up with a 73-72 record and Billy Martin is named the Minnesota Twins manager in October of 1968 replacing Cal Ermer.
1963 – The Twins were looking to sweep the visiting Chicago White Sox and win their seventh game in aa row in the third game of the weekend series at Met Stadium. Twins skipper Sam Mele went with newly acquired right-hander Jim Perry and Chicago countered with RHP John Buzhardt. It was kind of a pitchers duel for the first five innings with Chicago leading 2-1. The Twins went ahead to stay on a two run home run by Harmon Killebrew (6) in the sixth inning, just his sixth long ball of the year with Vic Power scoring in front of him making the score 3-2 for the good guys. The Twins added another run in the seventh and Earl Battey put a punctuation mark on the board with his eighth home run in the eighth inning making the final score 5-2. Perry got the win with seven innings of work in which he allowed just the two runs on nine hits while striking out three. Bill Daily went the final two innings for his second save. In addition to the Twins previously mentioned home runs, Zoilo Versalles all so hit his third of the season. Box Score
New Twins reliever saves the day aided by Mele’s Marauders by Sarah Johnson
1961 – The Minnesota Twins play in Washington for the first time and lose 4-3 to the expansion Washington Senators in their old stomping grounds, Griffith Stadium. Both starters, Jim Kaat for the Twins and Joe McLain for the Senators pitched complete games but McLain allowed one less hit and got the win. Kaat also had two of the Twins seven hits and both were doubles. Lenny Green extended his consecutive games hitting streak to 23. The Twins continued their sloppy play in the field with three more errors and the loss drops them below the .500 mark again, they won’t see it again this season. Box Score
1959 – Not Minnesota Twins related but I think this is possibly the best game ever pitched. Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitched a perfect game for 12 innings against the Milwaukee Braves, but lost the no-hitter and the game in the 13th inning. The game was played at Milwaukee County Stadium and was over in 2 hours and 54 minutes. How it ended was interesting to say the least. Box Score
Harvey Haddix pitches 12 perfect innings, loses in 13th by Mark Miller
