Front Page: Twins Game Recap (9/26): Hangover Lineup Propels Minnesota to Win Number 99

[Andrew Gebo]

The day after celebrating their first division title since 2010, the Minnesota Twins deployed a lineup consisting of six players who began the year in the minor leagues. Seven if you count the starting pitcher, Devin Smeltzer.

 

Luckily they were playing against Detroit, whose regular lineup is still worse than the Twins Triple-A lineup.Box Score

Smeltzer: 5 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 70% strikes (57 of 81 pitches)

Bullpen: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

 

Home Runs: Jonathan Schoop (23), Willians Astudillo (4)

Multi-Hit Games: Ian Miller (2-for-5), Willians Astudillo (4-for-5), Jonathan Schoop (2-for-5), Jake Cave (2-for-5)

 

 

Top 3 WPA: Cave .213, Astudillo .200, Miller .198

 

Young Players Make an Impact

Ian Miller collected both his first big league hit and RBI in the third inning to give Minnesota an early lead. This wouldn’t have been possible if not for Ronald Torreyes stealing second, marking only the fourth stolen base for Minnesota since the All-Star break.

 

LaMonte Wade made his first professional start at first base. He hadn’t played the position since his sophomore year of college, five years ago, and was borrowing Max Kepler’s first baseman's mitt.

 

This was an all-around interesting lineup.

 

Bomba Squad Reaches 300 and Beyond

In the top of the seventh inning, Jonathan Schoop hit his 23rd home run of the season and the 300th of the year for the Minnesota Twins. With that home run, Minnesota became the first team to ever hit 300 home runs in a season and once again passed the Yankees for the most home runs this year.

 

In the eighth inning, Willians Astudillo made it 301 bombas when he blasted his fourth of the year over the left field fence, giving Minnesota a 10-4 lead.

 

Winding Down

With the division already clinched and the 2019 regular season coming to an end, with no chance of leapfrogging the Yankees or Astros in the A.L. standings, we can expect to see more lineups similar to today's.

 

Enjoy watching stress-free baseball against Kansas City and get locked in for postseason baseball. There’s nothing better and we’ve earned this, Twins Territory.

 

Postgame With Baldelli

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Click here for a review of the number of pitches thrown by each member of the bullpen over the past five days.

 

Click here to view the article

[HighHeet]

FOUR stolen bases after the all-star break ???

 

Is that possibly another MLB record we've set this year? 

 

Think I'd rather enjoy celebrating the bomba record instead.

[Dantes929]

 

FOUR stolen bases after the all-star break ???

 

Is that possibly another MLB record we've set this year? 

 

Think I'd rather enjoy celebrating the bomba record instead.

I miss speed playing a role on our team and the diminished role it has in general.    Buxton is my favorite player  and my favorite plays were him bunting, stealing, taking extra bases and disrupting.     

[Monticore]

Astudillo needs to be on the playoff roster. He is mytho-poetic, the good luck charm of the team and he will hit.

[jimbo92107]

I did in fact see a bunch of guys on the bench wearing dark glasses.... tee hee!

[hvanotterloo]

Number of home runs on the Twins Bench today = 238

 

[mikelink45]

 

Astudillo needs to be on the playoff roster. He is mytho-poetic, the good luck charm of the team and he will hit.

On another post I forecasted him for the Dusty Rhodes award.  The unheralded player that steps up and dominates a series.  If anyone can relax and just produce it is him.

[SpicyGarvSauce]

Is that pumpkin pie on Rocco's desk?

[Squirrel]

 

I miss speed playing a role on our team and the diminished role it has in general.    Buxton is my favorite player  and my favorite plays were him bunting, stealing, taking extra bases and disrupting.     

It's not a coincidence that this team was constructed as it was given the nature of the ball. If they 'unjuice' it, you'll probably see more of what you are missing in the game is it is this year.

[DocBauer]

Managed to sneak in a couple glimpses of the game here and there. What a fun day, with getaway lineup that was more like a never arrived one. And yet they played good ball and beat up Detroit.

 

Liked the brief glimpse of Alcala. Wish that was more the norm for Romero.

 

Need at least 1 on KC for magic 100!

[terrydactyls]

Game 159 is in the books. The Twins hit two home runs today raising their league-leading total to 301 and giving them a two home run lead on the Yankees with both teams having three games left.

[SoDakTwinsFan4]

I didn't get a chance to see any of the game. I read his line but how did Smeltzer look? Will he have a role in the ALDS?

 

GO TWINS! IF WE BEAT THE YANKEES I WILL NOT BE TOO UPSET IF WE DONT MAKE IT TO THE SERIES. I WANT THE YANKEES!

[David HK]

Well, took a break from watching hearings in the middle of the night, and fell asleep with the game on. Just long enough to hear Jack Morris say, "Well, they've got the B team out there today..."

 

True, and I'll look forward to catching up with some replay. But pity the Tigers- they had a B team out there, too, but the B team is also their A team. Wonder if they'll keep Gardy around. Hope so.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Is that pumpkin pie on Rocco's desk?

Looks more like Playoff Pizza

[Bandit34]

 

Well, took a break from watching hearings in the middle of the night, and fell asleep with the game on. Just long enough to hear Jack Morris say, "Well, they've got the B team out there today..."

 

True, and I'll look forward to catching up with some replay. But pity the Tigers- they had a B team out there, too, but the B team is also their A team. Wonder if they'll keep Gardy around. Hope so.

I hope they keep Gardenhire in Detroit for a good long while. A good long while. 

[puckstopper1]

The Twins still have things to do prior to the playoffs.

1) Rest your starters and get healthy - esp. Kepler and Gonzalez and I'll add Garver to this given the way he has been looking at the plate lately.

2) Win the HR title

3) Win the 100th game.

[Aerodeliria]

 

Astudillo needs to be on the playoff roster. He is mytho-poetic, the good luck charm of the team and he will hit.

Not only that, but there are times when the Twins really need someone to make contact and if you need that, you turn to Astudillo.

[David HK]

Zounds!

 

Just read where Daniel Palka single-handedly smoked the Indians!

 

Hit 2 dongs, and raised his average above the Palka line!

 

Good job, old pal!

 

I only checked a few brief highlights, but yikes, the body language among the Cleveland team- looking really dispirited, and going through the motions.

[Monkeypaws]

 

 

I only checked a few brief highlights, but yikes, the body language among the Cleveland team- looking really dispirited, and going through the motions.

Win 93 games at least, and miss the playoffs? Ouch.

 

2 of their recent division crowns were won with 94 and 91 wins.

[David HK]

 

Win 93 games at least, and miss the playoffs? Ouch.

 

2 of their recent division crowns were won with 94 and 91 wins.

Heh... plus the ignominy of being blown out of the playoffs by the White Sox!  

 

   

[VATwinsFan]

Watch the video of Castro's (the Tigers', not ours) RBI single and pay attention to Miller's throw to home--it would appear he has quite the arm.

Edited September 27, 2019 by VATwinsFan