Game Thread, Twins@Royals, 7/3, 7:10 PM CDT

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The Twins look to carry momentum from last night's win into tonight. Tommy Milone (4-1, 3.19) faces Jeremy Guthrie (6-5, 5.68) first pitch at 7:10. 

 

Weather: Beautiful.

 

Lineups: Also beautiful:

 

TWINS

2B Dozier

RF Hunter

1B Mauer

3B Plouffe

LF Rosario

DH Sano

C Suzuki

SS Escobar

CF Hicks

 

ROYALS

SS Escobar

3B Moustakas

CF Cain

1B Hosmer

DH Morales

LF Gordon

C Perez

RF Rios

2B Infante

 

The Royals have the 3rd best record in all of baseball, and with last night’s win the Twins are back within 3 ½ games of them for first place.

 

1. The Twins were swept when these teams last met. That was the early June series at Target Field that began with the Twins in 1st place and ended with Torii Hunter doing a striptease at home plate. The Twins had clearly hit the skids at that point. In 20 games since, they are 9-11 and have kept themselves on the rails, as opposed to going "off the rails" which many would have expected to happen by now. A 9-11 record is not perfect, and it's not even .500, but it's not the end of the season. 

 

2. As you may have noticed, the Twins have a new #6 hitter. His name is Miguel Sano. Perhaps you’ve heard of him? This is a slight upgrade over their previous #6 hitters, Kurt Suzuki and Chris Herrmann. The Royals #6 hitter is Alex Gordon, which is an indication of how far apart the Twins and Royals are, at least on paper. But as they say, the games aren't played on paper. The Twins have many young power hitters who are very close to the Major Leagues, and have tried a couple, and hopefully Sano is the one who can add a spark immediately to the lineup.

 

3. What’s also impressive about Sano is how physically big he isn’t. I always had an image of Sano as a massive Ortiz-like human being, and indeed he may have been, reporting to camp this spring after a year of not playing baseball. Watching him in the batter’s box last night, however, I saw him as a big dude, but in a good way. Perhaps that personal training this spring has paid off. If this guy gets it together.... I will let you complete the thought. 

 

4. Looking up and down the Royals lineup, you might see a few guys who are All-Stars—and a few guys who aren't. Rumor has it that a couple Royals have been overtaken in the voting. The final announcements will be made in a basketball bracket style show on the four letter network on Sunday night prior to the game of the week.  Perkins will go, but will any other Twin? Let’s hope several guys put on a good show tonight and bring home a win.

 

5. The fifth thing to think about tonight is that it's currently 5 PM and I want to get this thread posted before I incur the wrath of a couple of the moderators. 

 

Enjoy the game! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Craig Arko]

I feel like seeing a Sano moonshot tonight. Make that happen, K?

 

[ScrapTheNickname]

Sano can get down the line in a hurry for a big man. I was very impressed.

[stringer bell]

Excellent job Hosken. Looking forward to listening to the game in my car on a long drive this evening.

[Halsey Hall]

Roserio, Sano and Hicks all shine tonight. 

[Halsey Hall]

 

 

Sano can get down the line in a hurry for a big man. I was very impressed.

He's faster than Poof!

[JB_Iowa]

 

I feel like seeing a Sano moonshot tonight. Make that happen, K?

 

Is anybody there?

Does anybody care?

Does anybody see what I see?

 

 

[Craig Arko]

Sano can get down the line in a hurry for a big man. I was very impressed.

Yeah, I'd say Sano is built more like a heavyweight boxer than a Sumo wrestler.

[Winston Smith]

 

He's faster than Poof!

Everyone is faster than Poof!

[USAFChief]

Outstanding job again, Hosken!

 

Thanks!

[USAFChief]

As for number 2...Sano is an upgrade over Suzuki and Herrmann??!?

 

Balderdash!

 

OPS, 2015:

 

Suzuki: .606

Herrmann: .554

 

Sano: .500

 

Case closed!

[Craig Arko]

Trevor May should be the new DH. No other rational decision is possible, and indeed any further discussion is a sign of serious psychological difficulties.

 

 

Hahahahahaha! Ok, So I'm not Kevin Spacey when it comes to impressions.

[Craig Arko]

Ervin has arrived, so expect a move after the game. Also Arcia just hit another dinger.

[jimmer]

was that not worth a challenge?  Mauer looked safe.

[Halsey Hall]

There goes the perfect game.

[jimmer]

Milone walks Escobar.  That's impressive.  Hard to do that.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Hit the ground running, eh? But only after walking thus far.

 

I haven't missed much...

[Halsey Hall]

 

 

was that not worth a challenge?  Mauer looked safe.

To early in the game.

[TheLeviathan]

Atta boy Sano.

[Danchat]

Rosario hits a double, Sano hits him in with a single.

 

I could get used to this...

[jimmer]

 

Rosario hits a double, Sano hits him in with a single.

 

I could get used to this...

Could very well be my favorite run scored all year.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Going into a four game series in KC and walking out with a series win would be huge.

 

I had secretly resigned myself to June starting the "big slide" but a small glimmer of hope is rekindling.

[Blake]

It's so much fun to see these kids in the lineup. Win or lose, the Twins have a good youth movement going.

[Halsey Hall]

Milone is hitting his spots just like Gibson did.  The Royals need some rookies to shake things up.

[mickeymental]

who expected sano to hit .400?

[jimmer]

 

who expected sano to hit .400?

The same people who expect Kris Bryant to hit 50 HR this season for the Cubs? :-)

[sampleSizeOfOne]

who expected sano to hit .400?

I just hope he hits

 

the ball.

[Blake]

Time for the Twins to pound Mr. Guthrie.

[ashbury]

who expected sano to hit .400?

Small sample size.

 

I will be surprised if he finishes the season above .375.

[Craig Arko]

Ok, Miguel. It's clobberin' time.