The Twins Almanac for July 23: Hicks Has a Signature Moment at Target Field and a Minneapolis Miller Has a Four-Homer Game

[Matt Johnson]

The Aaron Hicks Game
Former Twin Aaron Hicks put his stamp on an incredible regular-season game between the Twins and Yankees on this date in 2019, hitting a dramatic two-run go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth and making a remarkable diving catch to end the game with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th. 

---

Buehrle Pitches Perfect Game
Mark Buehrle pitched a perfect game on this date in 2009. His next start was against the Twins at the Metrodome and he retired the first 17 batters for a record 45 straight batters retired (including one out in the game prior to his perfect game). Despite the Twins' slow start in the July 28 game, they won 5-3.

---

Campaneris Homers on First MLB Pitch
Kansas City A's shortstop Bert Campaneris homered on his first major league pitch from Jim Kaat on this date in 1964. Campy hit his second career homer off Kitty in the seventh. The Athletics beat the Twins 4-3 in 11 innings at the Met.

Pretty remarkable debut, especially considering the six-time All-Star averaged just 5.5 home runs per 162 games over his 19-year MLB career. He led the American League in stolen bases six out of his first nine seasons.

---

Happy 65th birthday to Willmar native Brad Skoglund.

Fun Fact: He was teammates with Mike Trout's dad Jeff at Wisconsin Rapids in the Twins organization in 1983.

Longtime teacher and baseball coach in Paynesville. Reportedly an excellent badminton and floor hockey player.

---

Wohler Pitches a Gem
Bird Island-Lake Lillian graduate Barry Wohler pitched a four-hit shutout for the double-A San Antonio Dodgers on this date in 1987. The previous offseason, he was a standout member of the St. Cloud State basketball team that fell one win short of the Division II Final Four. (The 1981 high school graduate took classes at SCSU during the baseball offseasons.) 

He pitched a no-hitter at single-A Vero Beach in 1985.

---

Werden Hits Four Home Runs
Millers first baseman Perry Werden hit four home runs in an 18-5 win over the Detroit Tigers at Hiawatha Park in Minneapolis on this date in 1895.

He hit two home runs the day before, going 9-for-9 between the two games.

Werden hit .417 with a league-leading 43 home runs in 1894, and .428 with a league-leading 45 home runs in 1895. Those 45 home runs stood as professional baseball’s single-season record for 25 years until the Yankees’ Babe Ruth hit 54 in 1920.

Millers teammate Bill Kuehne also had a four-home run game back on June 11 of that year.

Bonus Fact: St. Paul native Jack Crooks had the first four-home run game in professional baseball history playing in St. Paul for the visiting Omaha Omahogs in1889. 

 

View full article

[Parfigliano]

That 7 year deal worked well for Hicks.

[Scott51104]

That game is the only one I have attended at Target Field.