Handing out Minnesota Twins Grades for the Game of the Year

Minnesota Twins that Just Scraped By

Alex Avila: 0-4, 2 K, 1 BB

Alex Avila also didn’t have a great game, but he was solid behind the plate, walked once, and his grounder moved Buxton to third in the bottom of the 12 inning, so he doesn’t totally fail. Still would have hoped for a lot more from the veteran catcher. Grade: C-.

Mitch Garver and Jake Cave: 0-0

Mitch Garver and Jake Cave didn’t get an at-bat in, as Cave came in as a pinch runner for Cruz and Garver was forced to play first base when Gonzalez was tossed. Garver made the necessary plays on defense, but with no real impact they get a solid C. Grade C.

Byron Buxton: 0-5

How does a player who hit into two double plays and went 0-5 for five on the night earn himself a C+? By being Byron Buxton of course. Buxton didn’t strike out all game and was placed on second in the 12 inning before using his blazing speed to score the game-winning run. That’s good enough for a C+ for me. Grade C+.

Minnesota Twins that were Above Average

Eddie Rosario: 0-4, 1 BB, 1 SB, 1 R

Despite going hitless at the plate, Eddie Rosario had quite the productive night on the base path, stealing second base (just the fifth of the season for the Twins) and scoring what would turn out to be a very important insurance run. That boosts his grade quite a bit. Grade: B.

Luis Arraez: 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB

Before being lifted in the 9th inning due to a knee injury, Luis Arraez was having a very productive game, hitting a double before scoring on Miguel Sano’s deep double to give the Twins their first run. That hit, run, and a walk on top earn Arraez a nice B+ for his performance. Grade B+.

Ehire Adrianza: 1-2, 1 R, 1 RBI

Ehire Adrianza had a huge impact on the Twins win, and he didn’t even get in until the seventh inning. Adrianza came into the game after Miguel Sano’s second double of the night (as a pinch runner) and scored on Polanco’s single. In his next at-bat, his squeeze bunt scored a key run and led to an infield single on a very good night for the utility man. Grade: B+.

Minnesota Twins that went Above and Beyond

Max Kepler: 0-3, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 SB, HBP, Game Saving Grab

Despite the fact that Max Kepler went hitless in during the game, it’s easy to see why he earned an A. He got on base three times during the game, walking twice and being hit by a pitch, and added two stolen bases. That’s a very good offensive night, and that’s before talking about the catch.

With runners on second and third with and one out, Orlando Arcia lined a ball to right field that should have scored two runs and put the Twins out of the ball game. Instead, Max Kepler did this:

Impossible to tell why Jedd Gyorko, a veteran, didn’t know what to do here, but Kepler gets all the credit in the world and an outstanding grade for his troubles. Grade: A.

Miguel Sano: 2-3, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K

For a bat that needed to wake up, Miguel Sano couldn’t have picked a better way to do it. Two long doubles and an RBI make this a great night, but when you remember that Adrianza scored running for Sano, his highlights seem all the more impressive. Great game for the Minnesota Twins’ first baseman. Grade: A.

Caleb Thielbar: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R

Caleb Thielbar, a guy who has been out of Major League Baseball since 2015, had to come in with a guy on second and get three outs. Thielbar sent them down one-two-three and kept the tie in a VERY high-leverage situation. That’s an A in my book. Grade: A.

Jorge Alcala: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 R

Now everything I just said applies to Jorge Alcala, but Alcala pitched TWO of those innings and has just 8.2 MLB innings under his belt. He got allowed two base runners, but he didn’t allow a run, and for that he earned his first Major League Win. You cannot ask for more than that from a guy who still hasn’t reached rookie status. Grade: A.

Minnesota Twins A+ Grades

Kenta Maeda: 8 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 12 K, 2 BB

Kenta Maeda is in a class all his own as far as grades go. Maeda took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before a stray Eric Sogard single ended his night. Maeda threw a career high 115 pitches, lasted through a Twins season-high eight inning start, striking out a Twins season-high 12 batters, and set a Twins record for consecutive strikeouts with eight straight.

This was a dominant start from the new No. 1 starter for the Minnesota Twins. You couldn’t possibly ask for anything more than what he gave last night. Grade: A+.