May 9 – This Day in Twins History
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2023 – The Twins lost to the visiting San Diego Padres at Target Field by a score of 6-1, allowing five runs in the final three innings. Louie Varland was the starter but did not factor into the decision, allowing one run on five hits in 6 innings pitched. Griffin Jax was issued the loss in relief, allowing two unearned runs in the seventh inning on no hits, two walks and one fielding error (Kirilloff) and two throwing errors (Vazquez). The offense recorded six hits as Jose Miranda drove in the only Twins run with a fourth inning RBI double. The Twins went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base. Minnesota is now just 1-for-21 with RISP in their last three games. Today’s game marks the sixth time in 36 games that the Twins have scored 1 or less runs. Padres starter Michael Wacha (3-1) got the win. 16,882 fans were on hand to witness the third consecutive Twins loss. Box Score
2022 – No game today, the Twins have a scheduled day off.
2021 – No game today. Today’s series finale between the Twins and Tigers at Comerica Park was postponed due to rain. The Twins are off to Chicago where they will play on Tuesday after a scheduled day off on Monday. It will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on July 16, the first day back from the All-Star break.
2020 – The Twins are still home and would have taken on the Kansas City Royals but as 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 39 games.
2019 – No Game Today. The Twins front office did however; announce that the $5 flash sale on tickets is sold out for May. Twins announce $5 flash sale tickets sold out
2018 – No Game Today
2017 – The Twins only score in two innings but both times with crooked numbers and they beat the White Sox 7-2 at Guaranteed Rate Field after trailing 2-0. Three Twins pitchers, Hector Santiago, Tyler Duffey and Taylor Rogers hold the mighty whitey’s to 2 runs on 4 hits and Santiago pockets the win. Byron Buxton has 3 hits including a double in 4 at bats and scores once and knocks in one. Box Score
2016 – No game today. The Twins game at home against the Baltimore Orioles was rained out and will be played on July 28, a previously scheduled day off.
1979 – No game today. Game rained out against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays and rescheduled as part of a July 21 double-header at the Met.
1977 – No game today, scheduled day off.to Blue Jays
1974 – No game today, scheduled day off. However; the Twins go to Tacoma to play their AAA team in a friendly exhibition game and the Twins beat Tacoma 9-3 with Killebrew hitting a pair of two-run home runs.
1972 – After having their five game winning streak broken yesterday by the visiting New York Yankees, the 12-4 Twins were ready to get back on the winning track as they took on the 6-11 Yankees. Fritz Peterson started for the Yankees and Jim Kaat got the call for the Twins. New York drew first blood on a Felipe Alou home run in the second inning but the Twins got three of their own in the bottom of the frame on RBI’s by Steve Brye, Phil Roof and Cesar Tovar. The Yankees closed the gap to 3-2 on a Thurman Munson home run in the seventh but the Twins got that run back in the bottom of the inning on odd situation that took place in the bottom of the seventh when Jack Aker took the mound in relief of Peterson. Here is how Stew Thornley and Tom Briere from the Minneapolis Tribune described the play.
In the last of the seventh, with Jim Nettles on third and Cesar Tovar at bat with a 3-0 count, Jack Aker delivered a wild pitch. Nettles scored and Tovar took off for first as Munson retrieved the ball. Tovar continued to second as Thurman Munson, with the ball in his hand at his side, stood at the base of the backstop and watched him. Tovar rounded second and continued on to third as Munson, apparently upset that Jack Aker was crossing him up on pitches, continued to watch him.Tom Briere, in the next day’s Minneapolis Tribune, wrote this:“[Ralph] Houk said he thought catcher Munson lost the count in the seventh inning when Cesar Tovar went from first to third on a wild pitch walk. Munson said, ‘Talk to the pitchers.’ Earlier, pitcher Jack Aker crossed Munson on a pitchout and Munson was fuming.”
The Twins went on to win 4-2 pinning loss number five on Peterson in as many starts. Jim Kaat who was 1 for 3 with the bat moved to 3-0 while allowing six hits and two runs in 8.1 innings. Wayne Granger picked up his fourth save for retiring the last two batters. Bobby Darwin and Roof each had two hits. Box Score
1969 – Twins starter Dean Chance who had missed several starts due to a tired arm upped his record to 3-0 when he went 6.2 innings striking out 7, allowing just 3 hits and 2 runs as the Twins beat the defending champion Tigers 6-2 at Tiger Stadium bring their record to 18-8, the best in all of baseball. The game however; was more interesting than the final score indicates. In the second inning with Graig Nettles on third and Leo Cardenas on first the Twins tried a double steal but the Tigers nailed Cardenas at first base and then threw home to catch the sliding Nettles before he crossed the plate for the third out of the inning. Chance who may have been one of the worst hitting pitchers in baseball history got a single and RBI in the fourth inning off Earl Wilson, it would be his only hit and RBI in 32 plate appearances in 1969. The ninth inning had a rarity too when Twins reliever Bob Miller had a ball called on him for failing to pitch within 20 seconds as per a new rule. For batter Al Kaline it was ball four and he took first base but did not score. Graig Nettles had 3 hits and Harmon hit his eighth home run of the season. Box Score
1963 – The visiting Kansas City Athletics (8-11) were at Met Stadium trying to take their second game in a row from the Twins (10-11) and they started Orlando Pena against the Twins Lee Stange. Stange however; lasted just 2.2 innings giving up 4 walks and 2 hits (both home runs) and left after giving up 4 runs. Jim Roland came in to relieve Stange but threw 10 consecutive balls and he too was asked to depart the mound for Bill Fischer. The A’s scored 3 more run in the fourth inning and had a 7-3 lead after four innings. The Twins came roaring back sending Pena to the showers with 3 in the sixth and four more in the seventh and held on for the 10-8 win. The Twins outhit the A’s 14 to 5 and Twins pitchers walked ten batters and the Twins still walked away winners. The is the first game the Twins had ever won in which their pitchers had walked ten or more opponents. Gerry Arrigo (2-0) pitched the final four innngs for the win allowing one hit and one run while striking out 7. The Twins had four home runs, Rich Rollins (4), Jimee Hall (8), Bob Allison (7) and Don Mincher (3). Box Score
Twins rally from 6-run deficit to beat Athletics, 10-8 by Rich Arpi
1961 – Jim Gentile becomes the 4th player to hit grand slams in consecutive innings on consecutive pitches. (Tony Lazzeri in 1936, Jim Tabor in 1939, Rudy York in 1946 are the others) when he belts one off Pedro Ramos in the first and adds another off Paul Giel in the 2nd. His 8 RBI in consecutive innings set a ML record. Gentile also tacks on a sacrifice fly to give him 9 RBI in the 13-5 drubbing of the Twins at Met stadium. This is the first time in Twins history that they have given up 2 grand slam home runs in the same game. Chuck Estrada went 7 innings for the win for Baltimore and as you may have guessed, Pedro Ramos took the defeat. The Twins hit four home runs, two by Bob Allison and one each by Harmon Killebrew and Hal Naragon. Box Score
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Orioles’ Jim Gentile blasts two grand slams on consecutive pitches
