Game Thread: Cleveland @ Twins 1:10 PM 6/26/2021 (Postponed)

[stringer bell]

The Twins face the soon-to-be re-nicknamed Cleveland team in game three of a four game series at Target Field (weather permitting). Last night the Twins prevailed 8-7 despite allowing four home runs and two unearned runs. Winning pitcher Griffin Jax provided 4.1 innings of acceptable relief and some hefty hitting by Luis Arraez and others was just enough.

The weather forecast for Minneapolis is for rain to start this afternoon and last through the evening hours. The ground is parched and the rain is needed, but it would be nice for the Twins to get this game in today. Here in southeast Minnesota, the rain has already begun. I think either the game starts on time or it won't be played.

Kenta Maeda starts for the home team. He's looked better, but certainly not on the level he performed in the shortened 2020 season. The Twins' bullpen has been used for over half of the innings in the series. It will be interesting to see how many innings Maeda will work if the game is in fact played. 

Lineup notes: Lefty hitting Trevor Larnach and Luis Arraez start against Sam Hentges, who is making his fourth start for Cleveland. Rookies Nick Gordon and Alex Kirilloff will begin the game on the bench despite good hitting yesterday. Max Kepler also is on the bench after another oh-fer as he continues to find his stroke. There are options for the Twins offensively, but the injuries they have are all to right handed hitters. 

Lineups:

Pitching

LAYER	W-L	ERA	WHIP	IP	H	K	BB	HR
S. Hentges	1-1	6.40	1.89	32.1	45	37	16	5
K. Maeda	3-2	4.85	1.44	52.0	60	50	15	11

Cleveland (41-32) hitters

 

HITTERS	H-AB	RBI	HR	SB	AVG
C. HernandezDH	60-278	28	11	0	.216
A. RosarioSS	63-238	23	5	7	.265
J. Ramirez3B	66-256	44	16	6	.258
E. RosarioLF	66-260	42	6	9	.254
B. Bradley1B	14-56	15	6	0	.250
J. NaylorRF	59-231	21	7	1	.255
E. Clement2B	4-13	1	0	0	.308
B. ZimmerCF	15-66	5	0	4	.227
R. RiveraC	12-50	8	1	0	.240

 

Twins (32-43) hitters

 

ITTERS	H-AB	RBI	HR	SB	AVG
J. Polanco2B	66-260	30	9	6	.254
J. Donaldson3B	49-198	29	10	0	.247
N. CruzDH	69-230	39	16	1	.300
T. LarnachRF	32-129	12	5	0	.248
R. JeffersC	19-93	14	5	0	.204
M. Sano1B	38-197	34	14	0	.193
L. ArraezLF	52-176	20	1	0	.295
G. CelestinoCF	4-34	1	1	0	.118
A. SimmonsSS	48-196	14	2	0	.245

[stringer bell]

I didn't realize Sam Hentges was a Minnesota boy. Best wishes to him except against my favorite team . 

The game is being delayed and I think that is going to end up being postponed IMHO. 

While I have everyone's attention, another month of baseball is almost over and we will be scheduling game thread introductions. I would like those of you who are regulars in the game threads to consider doing an introduction (or more than one). You can have a chance to set the tone for the thread and perhaps bring up a new perspective for a game. 

Game threads continue to be popular on Twins Daily and introductions are an important part of each thread. We're always looking for new talent and new views on the day's game. 

[LVTwinsfan]

I’m watching Houston and Detroit. I don’t mind Morris, when he gets on my nerves I just remember he pitched the best game 7 in World Series history.

[Squirrel]

We are in severe weather alert in ChiTown ... the tornado warning just ended, but now serious t-storms ... and, of course, flash flood warnings, too. Fun times.

[h2oface]

Looks like it is a good day to watch deGrom pitch, and dream about what it would be like to have a guy like that on our team. 

So sad for the boys from North Carolina State for earning their chance at being College champs, only to be eliminated after winning their first two games because of COVID protocol and the NCAA declaring a "No Contest" with only 4 teams left in the CWS. They played yesterday with only 1`3 players total available to play, and almost still beat Vanderbilt.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Postponed, will be made up as part of a doubleheader in September.

[stringer bell]

Well, at least they didn't burn Maeda in a game that didn't count. I hope Cleveland doesn't bypass Hentges.

[LVTwinsfan]

Tigers are beating the Houston Cheetahs 3-1 in game 1

[h2oface]

30 minutes ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

Postponed, will be made up as part of a doubleheader in September.

Tomorrow would just make too much sense.

[Nine of twelve]

12 minutes ago, h2oface said:

Tomorrow would just make too much sense.

The weather forecast for tomorrow isn't much better.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

15 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

The weather forecast for tomorrow isn't much better.

I am all for postponing both games until Buxton is better (as well as all the other injured folk, and not just on our side)

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1 hour ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

Postponed, will be made up as part of a doubleheader in September.

Try to remember those games in September...

 

(is that song about social media?)

[Otto von Ballpark]

33 minutes ago, h2oface said:

Tomorrow would just make too much sense.

In addition to the continuing weather concern, playing two games tomorrow would necessitate Cleveland changing their travel plans on short notice (they're supposed to fly to Detroit after the game Sunday). Seems like Sunday doubleheaders are pretty rare, and that might be part of the reason.

[Otto von Ballpark]

52 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

I am all for postponing both games until Buxton is better (as well as all the other injured folk, and not just on our side)

But, we need all the games we can get right now to erase our deficit. As it is, we already have an early season Detroit game that isn't being made up until after the all-star break, and now we're pushing this one past the trade deadline.

This also benefits Cleveland -- had they even named a starter for Sunday yet? Now they get to use Hentges and their full bullpen in that game. And their rotation might be back to full strength come September (although doubleheaders are usually tricky in that regard).

[Otto von Ballpark]

Happ will still start Sunday; Maeda skips ahead to Monday.

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Has it actually started raining at Target Field yet?

[Brock Beauchamp]

2 hours ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

Happ will still start Sunday; Maeda skips ahead to Monday.

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

1 hour ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Unless that is a facetious gif, note that the White Sox series starts Monday, and Happ has not fared well against them.

[Brock Beauchamp]

36 minutes ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

Unless that is a facetious gif, note that the White Sox series starts Monday, and Happ has not fared well against them.

It was half facetious in that I'm fine never watching JA Happ pitch again.