Minnesota Twins: Jose Berrios with 11 Strikeouts in Second Start

The Minnesota Twins halt a 3-game losing streak. More importantly, we may have seen the major league version of Jose Berrios.

The Minnesota Twins won the last game of the series in 2-0 fashion Thursday night. In the night side of a day-night double header, Robbie Grossman was 2 for 4 with a run and RBI, Brandon Kintzler got the save, but Jose Berrios stole the show.

For the second start in a row, Jose Berrios showed what Twins fans have been hoping for from the highly touted prospect. Berrios went 7.2 innings, allowed 2 hits, 1 walk, and had 11 strikeouts. That’s not a typo, 11 STRIKEOUTS!

Berrios was able to take a game and do something that we haven’t seen from a Twins pitcher very often as of late outside of Ervin Santana. He took control of the game. And a game that the Twins needed after losing 3 games in a row leading up to tonight’s game.

While the win was important, it was Berrios’ strikeouts that drew everyone’s attention. He pulled off something that has been very rare for a Twin’s pitcher for the past 5 seasons.

Those other pitchers to have 10 strikeouts or more were Santana twice in 2015, Phil Hughes in 2012, and Trevor May in 2014.

For two games, Berrios’ stuff has played at the MLB level in 2017. He seems to be performing in a way to stick. And if Thursday night is any indication, he doesn’t want to just stick but he wants to make an impact on this team and league.

Next: Minnesota Twins: Best Player in Each Decade

In conclusion, after a disappointing series against a good Colorado Rockies team, the Twins now turn to keep reeling in wins against AL Central opponents. As they welcome the Kansas City Royals to town, the ball will be handed to Hector Santiago as he looks to rebound from his last outing in which he was chased after 2.2 innings. Thankfully, the Royals have had their own struggles this season and may be the perfect remedy for Santiago.