Minnesota Twins Game Grades: Hole is Getting Deeper
Minnesota Twins Running Into Historic Territory by Dropping 9th Straight.
Broken record time, for two reasons. One, stop me if you’ve heard this one. The Twins get quality start from their pitching staff, only to watch as the offense flails at pitches and fails once again with runners in scoring position as Twins lose 3-1 to the Chicago White Sox.
Two, the Twins keep breaking the Minnesota record for losses to begin a season. And they are threatening the 1904 Washington Senators for the franchise record of 13 straight.
Ervin Santana had the unique opportunity to make a start in his 3rd straight 3-game series to open the season, a rare feat for today’s pitchers. Alas, the Twins provided no support (1 run) as Santana took his second loss of the year despite another quality start, and an ERA that stands at an even three.
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On a wonderful, sunny and warm day at Target Field, Santana threw 100 pitches (68 strikes) and was pulled after 7. Twins relievers came in and gave the offense a chance to come back.
But a comeback was not to be. There were only 6 base-runners in the game, the Twins weren’t able to mount any threats. One base-runner came on a hit batter, Byron Buxton in a scary moment taking one off his wrist in the bottom of the third. He stayed in the game briefly to steal second and get stranded, but left the game between innings for X-Rays. Luckily, they were negative.
Twins didn’t have many chances, but in the few they did, they were once again helpless at the plate, going 0-5 with runners in scoring position. Joe Mauer led off the bottom of the 4th inning with a triple, and scored on a Trevor Plouffe groundout.
Twins began the game in the hole, with the first three batters for the White Sox hitting double, single, single to score their first run. Santana recorded a strikeout, and then got a double play, to limit the damage to just one run. One run is all the Sox needed.
There was a home run by Avisail Garcia in the 4th, and Garcia scored again in the 7th after doubling and the Sox sacrificing with a bunt and a fly ball to drive him home to make it the final score of 3-1.
Twins will look to rebound (again) against the Los Angeles Angels this weekend at Target Field. Buxton is day-to-day with the wrist injury and the Twins did sign veteran outfielder David Murphy to a contract this morning. Twins GM Terry Ryan said that Murphy will go to AAA Rochester, but will come to the big league club “soon.” The contract includes an opt out date (not yet known), that if he is not recalled by that date, he can once again become a free agent.
1. 2. Final. 3. 128
. Joe Mauer. OFFENSE . D. 4 hits, 2 walks, <strong>6 strikeouts</strong>, 0 home runs and 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position. Twins batting under .100 in situations like this to start the year. Joe Mauer continues to hit (.387) with a 1-3 day, including his first triple. Scored only run. Not an F, since they kept the strikeouts under 10 (silver linings).
Team totals: 7 hits allowed, 1 walk, 1 home run and 6 strikeouts. Santana once again with a quality start (7 IP 3 ER), made 2 mistakes to Avisail Garcia (1 HR, 1 2B) that resulted in 2 of 3 runs. . . Ervin Santana. STARTERS . B
Taylor Roger. RELIEVERS . A. Team totals: 2 hits allowed, 0 walks, 0 home runs and 3 strikeouts. <a href=.
B. Twins made 1 error, and again it was <a href=. . Max Kepler. DEFENSE
MVT: Joe Mauer (ANY Twin that gets on base more than once, gets the award!)
The Twins will host the Los Angeles Angels tomorrow night at Target Field. First pitch is at 7:10 CDT. Tommy Milone (0-1, 3.86) will get the start for the Minnesota Twins. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports North. Garrett Richards (0-2, 3.86) will get the start for the Angels, who are 3-0 on the road to start the 2016 season.