Twins Video
Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)
Berrios: 63 Game Score, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 66.0% strikes (64 of 97 pitches)
Home Runs: None
Multi-Hit Games: Grossman (3-for-5, 2B), Astudillo (3-for-4, BB), Mauer (2-for-5, 2B), Petit (2-for-3, BB)
WPA of 0.1 or higher: Grossman .181, Rogers .148, Berrios .138, Mauer .109, Astudillo .108
WPA of -0.1 or lower: Petit -.108, Polanco -.152, Austin -.171, Hildenberger -.787
Hildenberger retired the first man he faced in the ninth, but then a Rosell Herrera double followed by a Whit Merrifield single tied it up at 4-4. Adalberto Mondesi delivered another single, putting the game-winning run at third base with one out.
That created an opportunity for Paul Molitor to try an interesting strategy. He had Hildy intentionally walk the next batter to load the bases, then substituted in Logan Forsythe for Robbie Grossman, who had been playing left field, to give the Twins a five-man infield.
The Twins could’ve had a seven-man infield and 15 guys in the outfield and it wouldn’t have mattered. Perez worked a full count, then hit a walk-off grand slam to center field.
Based on the early goings of this game, you certainly wouldn’t have predicted that Jose Berrios would turn in a strong outing. He walked a batter and gave up a run in the first inning before walking two more batters and gave up another run in the second.
Berrios got straightened out and was outstanding for the next four frames. After the second inning, Jose did not walk another batter, only gave up three hits and struck out eight batters.
This was the first time Berrios had pitched to Willians Astudillo, not sure if that had anything to do with the sluggish start, but it certainly couldn’t have helped matters. Speaking of viral video superstar Willians Astudillo, here’s another good one:
https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1040788341254381568
Trevor May gave up a solo homer in the seventh to bring the Royals within a run. Kansas City came within inches of tying the game against Taylor Rogers in the eighth, but the Twins combined to make an excellent play.
Robbie Grossman fielded a double off the wall, fired in to cutoff man Jorge Polanco, who quickly relayed the ball toward home. The throw was a little up the line, but Astudillo did a great job reeling in the throw, then lunging toward the runner to tag him out just in the nick of time.
https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/1040799990296150016
Astudillo was also 3-for-4 with a walk, the first of his Major League career.
Another day, another Joe Mauer milestone. He hit a double tonight that put him above Tony Oliva for fourth on the team’s all-time extra-base hit list. Twins Communications Director Dustin Morse gave us a look ahead at the next milestone Mauer will have his sights on:
https://twitter.com/morsecode/status/1040779131854708736
On the topic of getting on base, the Twins did an excellent job of doing that tonight. They combined for 13 hits and drew three walks. You’ve got to come away with more than four runs when you have that much traffic on the bases.
Postgame with Molitor
Next Three Games
Sat at KC, 6:15 pm CT: Chase De Jong vs. Ian Kennedy
Sun at KC, 1:15 pm CT: Kyle Gibson vs. Jakob Junis
Mon at DET, 6:10 pm CT: TBD
Last Three Games
KC 6, MIN 4: Coming Down is the Hardest Thing
MIN 3, NYY 1: Odorizzi Carries No-No Into 8th Inning
MIN 10, NYY 5: Joe Mauer Grand Slam Highlights Big Night for Bats
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