The Twins Almanac for May 19: Boston Bruno, Grand LeCroy

[Matt Johnson]

The Twins Almanac for May 19 features the start of a historically powerful rookie season for Jimmie Hall, a career game for Tom Brunansky against the Twins, a pinch-hit game-winning grand slam by Matt LeCroy, the only hit by a pitcher in Metrodome history, and the longest losing streak in Twins history. 

1963

Pinch hitter Jimmie Hall hit his first major-league home run off former Twin Pedro Ramos on this date in 1963.

Hall hit 33 that season, breaking Ted Williams' American League record for first-year players. Hall's record stood for 51 years until 27-year-old White Sox rookie José Abreu hit 36 in 2014. (Other rookies—such as Mark McGwire and Aaron Judge—have hit more, but they had major league experience prior to their official "rookie" seasons, and thus were not "first-year" players.)

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1982

The Twins lost 4-2 in Baltimore on this date in 1982, beginning a team record 14-game losing streak. They didn't win again until June 4, falling to 12-41 on the season. They lost eight games on the road and six at the Dome, and were outscored 88-33, including three shutouts.

They scored no more than two runs in each of the first eight games, followed by five games in which they scored at least four. Ron Davis and Brad Havens picked up three losses each. The Yankees' Goose Gossage, on the other hand, earned two saves and two wins against the Twins during the 14-game streak.

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1990

Old friend Tom Brunansky had the best individual game of his career playing for the Red Sox against the Twins on this date in 1990. Bruno went 5-for-5 with two home runs, seven RBI, and three runs scored in a 13-1 pummeling of the Twins at Fenway.

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2004

Matt LeCroy hit a pinch-hit game-winning grand slam on this date in 2004.

The Twins were trailing 5-2 with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth in Toronto when manager Ron Gardenhire sent Matt LeCroy out to pinch hit for third baseman Alex Prieto. LeCroy hit the 1-0 pitch out of the park for a one-run Twins lead.

Joe Nathan put the Blue Jays down in order in the bottom of the ninth, earning his 13th save of the season.

LeCroy's is the most recent of twelve pinch-hit grand slams in Twins history. Rich Reese hit three pinch-hit grand slams during his Twins career. The Twins as a team hit two in 1970—one each by Reese and Rick Renick.

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2008

On this date in 2008, Bobby Korecky connected for the only hit by a pitcher in Metrodome history—and he did it while earning his first major league win. 

Here's how the pitcher Korecky found himself with a bat in his hand: With the Twins trailing by a run going into the bottom of the ninth, Mike Redmond pinch hit for shortstop Adam Everett leading off the inning. (He grounded out). Then Craig Monroe pinch hit for second baseman Alexi Casilla. Monroe drew a walk, and was eventually driven in by Joe Mauer, sending the game to extra innings. 

But this left Mike Redmond and Craig Monroe in the lineup as the Twins' middle infielders. That certainly wasn't going to work! So Howie Clark—who only played in four games with the Twins—entered the game at second base, and the designated hitter Brendan Harris came in to play shortstop ... and thus the Twins lost the DH.

Bobby Korecky came in to pitch with the bases loaded and one in the top of the 11th and retired Ian Kinsler and Michael Young to get out of the jam. Korecky then came to the plate in the bottom of the 11th and hit a one-out ground-ball single to right. Brendan Harris then singled and Mauer walked to load the bases, with Korecky representing the winning run on third, but Justin Morneau struck out and Michael Cuddyer grounded out to end the inning. (So both teams had the bases loaded with one out in the 11th inning but failed to score!) 

Korecky set the Rangers down in order in the top of the 12th, and Howie Clark was hero in the bottom of the inning, hitting a walk-off double to center scoring Carlos Gómez. 

And that's how Bobby Korecky got his first major league win and the only hit by a pitcher in Metrodome history. 

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[Oldgoat_MN]

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