Game Thread Twins @ Red Sox 12:10 PM 7/29/18

[stringer bell]

Good morning and welcome to your Twins Game Thread for Sunday. It is the series and season finale, with the Twins currently 3-3 against the Red Sox. They are down 2-1 in the series, hoping to come out of Fenway with a split.

 

Last night's game got away from the Twins after they had gotten a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the fourth. Too many balls caromed off the high walls in center and left and Mookie Betts and JD Martinez did what they have been doing regularly.

 

We are now 53 hours away from the trade deadline. Still remaining on the club are Brian Dozier, Lance Lynn, Logan Morrison, Zach Duke, and Fernando Rodney--all guys with some value and all potential free agents after this season. There have been rumors about a deal for Kyle Gibson, who would (IMHO) command the most return.

 

On the field, Miguel Sano returned and had another tough day at the plate (0-4 with 3 Ks), but he does look better at third base. Trying to get Miggy back to where he was the first half of 2017 has to be one of the Twins biggest priorities the rest of the way.

 

Lineups:

 

Twins 48-55

 

Mauer DH (L)

Rosario LF (L)

Polanco SS (S)

Dozier 2B. ®

Morrison 1B (L)

Sano 3B ®

Grossman RF (S)

Cave CF (L)

Wilson C ®

 

Jose Berrios RHP

 

 

Red Sox 73-33

 

Betts RF ®

Benintendi LF (L)

Martinez DH ®

Pearce 1B ®

Bradley Jr. CF (L)

Nunez 2B ®

Swihart 3B (S)

Holt SS (L)

Leon C (S)

 

Eovaldi RHP

[Han Joelo]

Boy, the top 3 of the Boston lineup belongs among the best band of bashing batsmen anywhere.  The rest of that lineup, though?  

 

The one Sano AB I watched on gameday, he successfully laid off sliders down and away (out of the zone) to start, but then Porcello was able to tighten it up and get a couple of close ones right on the corner.  I'd say that is a win for Mig, even if it was still technically a K.  It wasn't a K of the flailing variety, at least.  AB's like that one, at least, should result in more walks, and better pitches to hit down the line.

 

Also:

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Berrios.

 

He's pitching today, eh?

 

He's not bad, or so i hear tell.

 

I think maybe we got a chance. Would be nice to take the season series.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Rosario on 2nd.

 

I approve.

[Nine of twelve]

 

Rosario on 2nd.

I approve.

I thought for a second when you said Rosario on second that you meant he was playing second rather than being a baserunner on second because I just read RB's article about position flexibility.

[ashbury]

I thought for a second when you said Rosario on second that you meant he was playing second rather than being a baserunner on second because I just read RB's article about position flexibility.

... and because he played some second in the minors, and because he filled in at third just the other night, and because the trade winds they are a-blowing....

[mickeymental]

... and because dozier is hitting .226 ...

[Blake]

Crap.

 

Need to make that play, Mr. Polanco.

[yarnivek1972]

Going to be an awful lot of bullpen in this game. Almost 50 pitches combined in the first.

[mickeymental]

the svelte k. what a concept.

[adorduan]

Miguel "The Who" Sano.  Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...

[mickeymental]

maybe the twins can swing a trade for chris jimenez and get him to fenway within the hour.

 

edit: gimenez.

[Aggies7]

Everything in this game so far has been deflating

[Aggies7]

A nice 5 minute top half of the inning while Berrios has thrown about 352 pitches in two innings

[yarnivek1972]

8 pitches. Way to make him work.

[yarnivek1972]

Eovaldi 30 pitches in innings 2-4.

[Danchat]

It feels like the Red Sox lineup is finally showing the Twins what they're capable of this weekend. Odd how Lynn did so well against them, though.

[yarnivek1972]

Berrios is likely done after 4. He’s going to be close to 100 pitches already.

 

 

Edit: If he makes it out of the 4th.

[Aggies7]

It’s amazing we’ve beaten them once let alone 3 times consOrdering they’re superior in every facet of the game

[Danchat]

 

It’s amazing we’ve beaten them once let alone 3 times consOrdering they’re superior in every facet of the game

We've beat them 3 times this season, which shocks me. Even finishing the season series at 3-4 wouldn't be too shabby.

[adorduan]

Well, it wasn't a K I guess.... such small victories...

[NorthwestTwinsFan]

Sano's collapse over the last year is absolutely incredible.  To go from an All Star to one of the worst players in baseball that quickly.....it's hard to even find the right words.

[Danchat]

Alright, Moya, time for round 2 against the Red Sox. Time to go up against the heart of the best MLB offense's order...

[Aggies7]

Real solid offensive effort today

[Danchat]

...or they're going to use Mejia as a long reliever. I suppose it's good that they're using him.

[yarnivek1972]

6 pitches.

 

Niiiiiiiiiice.

[Monkeypaws]

Cy Eovaldi making quick work of the Twins today.

[mickeymental]

must be the uniform.

[Aggies7]

Sano's collapse over the last year is absolutely incredible. To go from an All Star to one of the worst players in baseball that quickly.....it's hard to even find the right words.

He looks more and more like the dreaded B word with every passing AB

[yarnivek1972]

I believe this was mentioned elsewhere, but it appears Sano has gone from not being able to hit breaking balls to not getting good swings on fastballs.

 

That’s not what I call progress.