Game Thread: Twins at Seattle Mariners, 6/15/22 @ 3:10pm CT

[bighat]

Twins fans awoke this morning to an unfamiliar sound: footsteps. Minnesota’s sat comfortably atop the AL Central standings for the past several weeks, but after getting shutout by the Mariners on Tuesday night, the division lead is down to just 2.5 games over the Cleveland Guardians.

This afternoon the Twins (36-28) need a stopper on Getaway Day and will look to Sonny Gray, who returns to the rotation to face the Mariners (28-34) in the series rubber match. After a 2-week stint on the IL with a pectoral injury, Gray (3-1, 2.41) will hope to pick up where he left off. His last outing was May 29, when he notched a 6-inning, 4 strikeout performance in a win against KC. That marked the third time in a row that Gray had pitched 6 innings or more, a feat unlikely to be accomplished today as many assume he’ll be on a strict pitch count.

Minnesota’s offense has gone to sleep in Seattle (sorry, I just had to), scoring just three runs in 2 games. They’ll look to turn things around against Marco Gonzales (3-6, 3.63). The Twins notched their first win of the 2022 season against Gonzales back on April 10th, battering the Mariner hurler for 6 runs over 2 innings, courtesy of a couple homers from Byron Buxton and a grand slam from Gary Sanchez.

Play ball! 

Weather: A crisp 62 F, cloudy. Roof status unknown.
Odds: Twins -120, Mariners +100
Lineups:

Twins:

1. Byron Buxton (R) CF

2. Carlos Correa (R) SS

3. Gio Urshela (R) 3B

4. Gary Sanchez (R) DH

5. Luis Arraez (L) 2B

6. Jose Miranda (R) 1B

7. Ryan Jeffers (R) C

8. Max Kepler (L) RF

9. Gilberto Celestino (R) LF

P: Gray (R)

Mariners:

1. Adam Frazier (L) 2B

2. Ty France (R) 1B

3. Julio Rodriguez (R) CF

4. Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B

5. Jesse Winker (L) DH

6. Dylan Moore (R) SS

7. Luis Torrens (R) C

8. Taylor Trammell (L) RF

9. Sam Haggerty (S) LF

P: Gonzales (L)

[USAFChief]

Normally, we don't reveal personal details about posters, but today's game thread author did such a fantastic job, and posted WHILE ON VACATION, that I thought a photo was appropriate. 

 

[stringer bell]

The Twins are actually behind Cleveland in the loss column! The Guardians have played seven fewer games than the Twins and they have been taking advantage of a soft spot in their schedule. There will be ebbs and flows in the standings. The Twins are getting healthy and if they play like they are capable, I don't think Cleveland can stay with them. 

[bighat]

30 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Normally, we don't reveal personal details about posters, but today's game thread author did such a fantastic job, and posted WHILE ON VACATION, that I thought a photo was appropriate. 

 

Technically I'm between jobs - my last day at my old job was this Monday, and I've still got almost 3 weeks until my new gig starts! For now I like to tell people that I'm "on sabbatical".

Hitting the gulf side beach tomorrow, will head to the Atlantic side next week. Also plan to go to the Rays/Brewers Wednesday matinee on June 29th. I have a hunch that there are probably plenty of seats available.....

 

[MMMordabito]

Rumor has it Marco Gonzales was spotted at a Seattle-area Costco buying a six-pack of Vaseline.

Opponent 

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	HBP	BAbip	tOPS+
	Minnesota Twins	4	89	78	22	31	6	0	8	8	15	.397	.449	.782	1.232	61	1	.404	225

[Jerr]

The game is on YouTube for all us non-cable types!!!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Normally, we don't reveal personal details about posters, but today's game thread author did such a fantastic job, and posted WHILE ON VACATION, that I thought a photo was appropriate. 

 

Hey Chief!

 

How do i know those just aren't small people?

[USAFChief]

3 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

Hey Chief!

 

How do i know those just aren't small people?

 

[USAFChief]

29 minutes ago, Jerr said:

The game is on YouTube for all us non-cable types!!!

Well ****. Now I have to figure out a way to watch. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

2 hours ago, bighat said:

Twins fans awoke this morning to an unfamiliar sound: footsteps. Minnesota’s sat comfortably atop the AL Central standings for the past several weeks, but after getting shutout by the Mariners on Tuesday night, the division lead is down to just 2.5 games over the Cleveland Guardians.

We are behind them in the loss column. If they win out, there is nothing we can do about it. Well, except in the games we play them. We can probably do something then.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

35 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

 

and help me out...

But maybe probably not?

 

Loops are hard. If the batter returns to the plate on a homerun, why don't base runners make it back to their original bases too?

[nicksaviking]

Whomever had that lineup predicted wins a free GIF from Chief.

It's almost like they put the first two names down and drew out of a hat after that. Gonzalez's righty/lefty career splits are almost identical too, so it's not like he's a lefty killer.

[CRF]

The Roc is mixing the line up around again I see. Oh well. We need to score some runs! I think we should get Kirilloff back up here, put him in the line up, and stop playing Jeffers and Sanchez at DH and catcher in the same game. Kirilloff is raking for the Saints. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Buxton makes the catch.

 

Will surprises never cease?

[stringer bell]

You Tube announcers full of superlatives. 
 

Edit: When we can hear them. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

35 minutes ago, CRF said:

Kirilloff is raking for the Saints. 

A good saint always "leaves" it all on the field.

 

Someone.needs to rake...

 

Good on Kiriloff!

[MMMordabito]

1 minute ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

Buxton makes the catch.

 

Will surprises never cease?

The film crew had to document his entire recovery to keep us on our edge.  I was worried they'd cut frame and then Rocco and Abe would be out there.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1 minute ago, stringer bell said:

You Tube announcers full of superlatives. 

As sentence full of verb.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Just now, sampleSizeOfOne said:

As sentence full of verb.

Also bread and butter.

Hungry...

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Miranda makes it to first.

[chaderic20]

6 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

You Tube announcers full of superlatives. 
 

Edit: When we can hear them. 

YouTube Control Room: "Anyone know what this 'mute' button does?" ... "I dunno, just keep pushing it until we figure it out"

[CRF]

Wow...Jeffers really crushed that one!

[CRF]

We're supposed to be able to listen to the Twins radio feed on these youtube games, but it's not working...at least for me it isn't. I can't switch from Braun and Alonso. They're putrid. 

[chaderic20]

1 minute ago, CRF said:

We're supposed to be able to listen to the Twins radio feed on these youtube games, but it's not working...at least for me it isn't. I can't switch from Braun and Alonso. They're putrid. 

Same, all three audio tracks are just the youtube guys in varying qualities.

[USAFChief]

Good to have Gray back.

 

[stringer bell]

Just now, USAFChief said:

Good to have Gray back.

 

Just have him start every fifth or sixth day. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

Good to have Gray back.

 

Good to have Gray front, too.

 

[MMMordabito]

Must be Irish Wolfhounds for the between inning entertainment.

[MMMordabito]

Does Chris Archer have some clause in his contract for the number of mic'd up sessions he does?

[LVTwinsfan]

1 minute ago, MMMordabito said:

Does Chris Archer have some clause in his contract for the number of mic'd up sessions he does?

I think they just love talking to him