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Minnesota Twins Game Grades: Drop Series Finale vs Marlins

By Scott Wessels

Jun 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Phil Hughes (45) reacts to the pain of a ball that hit his knee off the bat of a player from the Miami Marlins in the ninth inning at Target Field. Hughes left the game. The Marlins win 10-3. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Phil Hughes (45) reacts to the pain of a ball that hit his knee off the bat of a player from the Miami Marlins in the ninth inning at Target Field. Hughes left the game. The Marlins win 10-3. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Minnesota Twins Trying for Sweep, Implode in 7th Inning, Fall 10-3.

The Minnesota Twins did not look like one of the two worst teams in baseball for the first 24 innings of baseball against the Miami Marlins. After winning the first two games, the Twins battled to a 2-2 tie going into the top of the 7th inning.

And then, well, the 2016 version of the Twins reared its head once more, allowing 7 runs on 8 hits, including a 2-run, pinch-hit home run by Chris Johnson, to take a commanding 9-2 lead. Trevor May had an impressively horrible appearance in relief of Ervin Santana, allowing 3 hits (2 doubles), and 3 runs without recording an out.

Santana had scattered 6 hits in his first six innings, allowing just 2 runs (both with 2 outs) with no walks and 3 strikeouts. After getting the first out in the seventh, Santana gave up 3 consecutive singles, the final a run-scoring hit by the ageless Ichiro Suzuki.

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On came May. With runners on the corners and one out in what was then a 3-2 game, May promptly uncorked a wild pitch to allow the 4th run to score. He then allowed back-to-back doubles, before a single by Marcell Ozuna chased May from the game as boos rained down at Target Field.

Taylor Rogers, who won yesterday’s game, relieved May and was faced with the task of going up against Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton worked the count full before striking out, and it seemed that Rogers relaxed a little after getting the Marlins’ top slugger out, because two pitches later Johnson lined a fastball over the right field wall to cap the 7th inning for Miami.

And just like that, a 2-2 game was out of reach. Phil Hughes pitched in relief in the 8th inning, and he too allowed 3 consecutive singles for the final Miami run. The Twins loaded the bases in the 9th inning with only one out, but the could only score a run on a passed ball. After re-loading the bases, Juan Centeno grounded into a game-ending double play.

10. 82. 3. 2. Final

OFFENSE . C. 7 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts, 0 home runs and 2 for 4 with runners in scoring position. Grossman’s 2-run, 2 out, RBI double pulled the Twins into a tie in the bottom of the 6th inning, injecting life into a moribund Twins offense for about 5 minutes.. . Robbie Grossman

. Ervin Santana. STARTERS . B-. Team totals: 9 hits allowed, 0 walks, 0 home runs and 3 strikeouts. Santana was sharp, but labored in the humidity. He looked gassed by the 5th inning. Gutted it out, but probably shouldn’t have started the 7th inning. 

Team totals: 9 hits allowed, 0 walks, 1 home run and 4 strikeouts. Also, a HBP and a wild pitch. <em>Not</em> good. May’s wild pitch was his 7th already this year, as a reliever. Those 7 wild pitches ranks him second worst in the AL, behind only <a href=. . Trevor May. RELIEVERS . F

. Ervin Santana. DEFENSE . D. Twins made 2 errors, including a throwing error on a pickoff attempt by Santana in the first inning. The run ended up being earned anyway, as the runner, Ichiro, scored on a double by Ozuna. However, the 2nd out was recorded on a grounder to short, a double play ball that could have ended the inning. A sloppy game featuring balks (also Santana), wild throws, missed cut-off men…

Next: Draft Day, What Should Twins Strategy Be?

MVT: Robbie Grossman

Notes: Both Phil Hughes (hit by batted ball on knee) and Oswaldo Arcia (bruised foot) left the game due to injuries. Both X-rays were negative. Twins drafted 1B/OF Alex Kiriloff, a high schooler from Pennsylvania, with the 15th pick in the amateur draft. Drafted another high-schooler, catcher Ben Rortvedt from Wisconsin, in the second round. Both are left-handed hitters.

The Twins will face the Boston Red Sox tomorrow night at Target Field, wrapping up their 10 game homestand with 3 against the Red Sox. First pitch is at 7:10 CDT. Tyler Duffey (2-4) will face knuckleballer Steven Wright (6-4). Wright’s 2.29 ERA is 3rd in the AL. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports North.

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