Minnesota Twins top 2017 moments: offense explodes against Mariners
The Minnesota Twins had an incredible run to the playoffs in 2017. Let’s remember some of the best moments of the year!
The Minnesota Twins had an incredibly fun season to follow as a fan. To close out the calendar year of 2017, we will take a look back at some of the biggest moments of the season!
Our next moment was a June game when the Twins offense exploded for 20 runs against the Seattle Mariners.
Minnesota Twins 2017 offense
The Twins had what is easily tagged as a streaky offense in 2017. The team seemed to rack up 5+ runs for games in a row and then struggle until August, when the Twins’ offense simply turned on for the rest of the season, including the Wild Card game, though it wasn’t quite enough.
The offense scored 815 runs in 2017, nearly 100 more runs than in 2016, when the team scored 722 runs.
The game
Kyle Gibson started the game for the Twins with what would be an abnormal lineup for the Twins (Robbie Grossman in the field, Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton with with the day off.
The Mariners opened the scoring with 2 runs in the first inning and another run in the top of the second inning to take a 3-0 lead, entering the bottom of the 2nd inning. The Twins then began their onslaught.
Max Kepler opened the bottom of the 2nd inning with a solo home run. After a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly put Kennys Vargas on third base, Jorge Polanco drove in Kennys Vargas with a tapper back to the mound. Eddie Rosario followed up with a 2-run home run on the first pitch of the at bat.
Then came the third inning – after Joe Mauer struck out, the Twins hit six straight singles. After a pitching change, the Twins got back-to-back home runs from Eddie Rosario and Brian Dozier before Joe Mauer closed out the inning with a ground out. In all, the Twins scored 7 runs on 8 hits in the inning.
More from Puckett's Pond
- Minnesota Twins: After signing with the Mets, Correa spurns Twins again
- Minnesota Twins: You Spin Me Right Round, Right Round
- Minnesota Twins: What happens next at Shortstop?
- Minnesota Twins: Grading the Twins’ Joey Gallo signing
- Minnesota Twins: 4 Possible Trade Chips not named Kepler or Arraez
The Twins added another run in the bottom of the 4th inning before exploding again in the 7th inning.
Jason Castro and Jorge Polanco opened the 7th with singles. Eddie Rosario really tagged a fly ball, but it ended up in the glove of the center fielder for the first out.
Brian Dozier doubled to score Castro before Mauer hit a comebacker to the pitcher. the Mariners attempted to get Polanco at third and committed an error, allowing Mauer to reach and Polanco to score.
From there, the Twins hit four straight singles before Jorge Polanco finally closed out the inning with a groundout to first base. In the inning, the Twins scored 7 runs on 8 hits.
Next: How offseason deals affect the Twins' plans
Eddie Rosario capped off the scoring in the bottom of 8th inning, leading off the inning with a solo home run. On the game, the Twins scored 20 runs on 28 hits, also walking twice.