Article: Milone Leads Twins To Win Number 81

[Seth Stohs]

On Monday night, the Twins began their final week of the 2015 regular season with the first of four games in Cleveland. It won't be an easy task and it started with a game against reigning Cy Young Corey Kluber.

 

Hours before the game, Tommy Milone was told that he would make the start in place of an ill Phil Hughes. He gave the Twins all they could have hoped for. The bullpen finished the job.

 

The Twins pulled out a 4-2 win. It was the team's 81st game of the season, guaranteeing them a .500 record for the first time since 2010.Last Wednesday, Corey Kluber was making his return from a hamstring injury. He had a pitch limit in the game, but through three innings, he did not allow a run. However, the Twins were able to knock him out in the fourth inning with a four-spot against him.

 

The Twins hitters clearly used the same game plan against Kluber on Monday night. They were aggressive early in the game. Kluber retired the first two batters. However, Joe Mauer hit the first pitch he saw off the wall in left-center field for a double. Miguel Sano came up and hit nearly the same spot with a double of his own, driving in Mauer. Trevor Plouffe came to bat, having missed Sunday's game at Target Field due to illness, and he launched his 22nd home of the season to give the Twins a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

 

Kluber settled down and finished six innings, giving up four runs on seven hits. Mauer had two hits. Eddie Rosario, celebrating his 24th birthday, had three hits on the night.

 

Chris Herrmann didn't have a hit, but he walked in his first plate appearances and was hit by a pitch his second time up.Probably even more important, Herrmann contributed while giving Kurt Suzuki a game off. Well, most of a game off. Herrmann was pinch hit for late in the game, so Suzuki still caught two innings, but he didn't have to catch nine. That is important.

 

But, as we have learned time and time again, it all comes down to pitching. Tommy Milone was not scheduled to start again this year. He found out hours before the game that he would be making the start in place of Phil Hughes who was sick and had an IV earlier in the day.

 

Milone had not pitched since September 17th when he gave up five earned runs in just 1.1 innings. Noting that he walked three batters in that time, he was shut down with a shoulder injury.

 

He struggled a little bit the first two innings. In the first, he served up a long home run to Francisco Lindor but over time, he settled down. He had quick innings in the third and fourth. He gave up a leadoff triple to Jason Kipnis in the sixth, and he scored on a ground out one batter later. Milone gave up just the two runs in 5.2 innings. It was quite impressive, all things considered.

 

Then came the bullpen. Blaine Boyer got the final out of the sixth inning. Casey Fien came in for the seventh frame. On Friday night, he really struggled and gave up three runs in that meltdown in Detroit. However, on this night, he gave up a hit in a scoreless inning.

 

Glen Perkins was given the eighth inning. It's no secret that he has been struggling of late. In a great interview with Mackey and Judd on 1500ESPN, he was fully accountable and upfront regarding his struggles. Fans were on edge when he gave up a leadoff single to Mike Aviles on an 0-2 pitch to lead off the inning. However, he responded by striking out Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor. Michael Brantley grounded to first base for the third out.

 

Kevin Jepsen came in for the ninth inning, trying to protect a two-run lead. He got three pop-ups to end a 1-2-3 inning for his 14th save of the season.

 

A fast start by the offense. A solid outing from the starting pitcher. Timely hitting Bullpen getting their job done. These are the things that a team would like to get every night, but as the team is now down to just six games remaining, these will be even more magnified.

 

As this article is written, the Astros' and Angels' games were just beginning on the West Coast. The Twins hope to make up some ground in the wild card race.

 

On Tuesday night in Cleveland, the Twins will send Kyle Gibson to the mound. Gibson is coming off a bad start and is 10-11 with a 3.96 ERA. The Twins will face Cody Anderson who is 6-3 with a 3.31 ERA this season.

 

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[dougkoebernick]

Gibson is coming off a bad start but he had a decent stretch of outings before that game. Let's hope he can get back on track. Go Twins!

[dougkoebernick]

P.S. And thanks Seth for all of your articles this season - I enjoy reading your stuff!

[Seth Stohs]

 

P.S. And thanks Seth for all of your articles this season - I enjoy reading your stuff!

 

Thank you! It's been a fun season! Hopefully it continues a bit longer!

[REPETE]

Six games left, with two teams to climb over.  They're going to need every pitcher to do exactly what Mayday just did.  I've got a feeling they'll need to go 5-1 to have a chance. 

[laloesch]

 

Gibson is coming off a bad start but he had a decent stretch of outings before that game. Let's hope he can get back on track. Go Twins!

 

 

He'll blow it.  You wait.  6 runs given up first three innings.  Book it. 

 

 

Using a bit of reverse psychology.

[scottz]

I think my guess at the beginning of the year was 77 wins. Getting to 78 was bonus baseball. Getting to 81 and a guaranteed .500 or better record is great. Still having a 7% chance (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/odds/) at a playoff spot at with 6 games remaining? That's real, real fun.

 

Go Twins!