MIN 5, LAA 3: Twins Outlast Angels in Gutsy Victory

13 appearances in April. Out of 24 games.

6 games already in May. Out of 11.

Gee, wonder why he’s struggling.

13 appearances in April. Out of 24 games.

 

6 games already in May. Out of 11.

 

Gee, wonder why he’s struggling.

It was easy to see ghosts of 2016 during the team's recent losing streak, but going 7-2 on this road trip has been very encouraging, especially going 4-1 vs St. Louis and LA. Almost all teams go through funks. I'm not the first to remind us that last year's Dodgers team lost 16 of 17 during August and September. Granted, that team was a steamroller otherwise, going 103-42 in their other games. The point is that this team has the potential to do very well the rest of the way, especially considering Buxton has not yet rounded back into form, Sano has been out and Polanco will be available for the second half of the regular season.

Twins winning when not hitting particularly well, not pitching particularly well, and not playing defense particularly well.

Dominated in St. Louis, but Angels' series has been about good fortune.

Which we'll take.

Back to .500 in a hurry.

Anybody else excited that it’s Garver who’s come through with the big hits the last two nights?

Anybody else excited that it’s Garver who’s come through with the big hits the last two nights?

He had to be relieved. The high fastball he missed that allowed the runner to advance from 2nd to 3rd and leading to the fielders choice run from 3rd and the the ball he missed later leading to the third run kept the Angels in the game led to 2 runs. Those are plays most major league catchers makes. Yesterday he didn’t need to make either but making one of them would have prevented extra innings.

Buxton is such a disrupter on the basepaths and a game-saver in the field. That frustrates opponents mightily and lifts his teammates, the consequence being we win  close games more often. Buck's in the other team's heads so much, MLB wants to make him pay rent.

Need a 6+ inning start from Romero today with hildy, Duke, and Rodney throwing the last 2 days, and pressly and duke throwing a high number of pitches yesterday. Great win. However, bats have to stop disappearing for multiple innings at a time.

Twins winning when not hitting particularly well, not pitching particularly well, and not playing defense particularly well.

 

Dominated in St. Louis, but Angels' series has been about good fortune.

 

Which we'll take.

 

Back to .500 in a hurry.

Quite a few of the losses in the losing streak felt like bad fortune.      Doesn't necessarily even out and the fortunes of a team like the Twins often depend on more of those things going our way rather than against.   Really excited about today's matchup.   Hopefully it lives up to billing.

Basically a quarter of the way through the season, who knew Kyle Gibson would be our best starter?

Although Gibson was effective last night, looing at the results, I didn't think he was pitching well earlier in the game.  At one point, he had thrown 52 pitches with only 26 strikes...50%.  Was constantly missing the strike zone and sure felt like he was struggling.  Great seeing him get thru 6 innings and allowing only a couple of runs.

Garver got another big hit but he seems to give up a run per game with his awful catching.

Don't we have a pitching coach and a bench coach?  When Molitor overuses a bullpen pitcher shouldn't one of these men earn their pay and tell him to use a different pitcher. I think Hildenberg is recovering from that overuse last year.  Now Pressly is the favorite.  With Hughes a nonfactor it does limit the bullpen options. 

That doesn't mean he listens to them. He still holds rank (and, to add to the intrigue, it's possible those coaches were hired by the front office).

Although Gibson was effective last night, looing at the results, I didn't think he was pitching well earlier in the game.  At one point, he had thrown 52 pitches with only 26 strikes...50%.  Was constantly missing the strike zone and sure felt like he was struggling.  Great seeing him get thru 6 innings and allowing only a couple of runs.

I think Gibson was doing what he had to survive the Angels lineup. That lineup is potent and for Gibson to keep the Angels in check, especially after keeping the Yankees lineup in check tells me my guarded optimism starting the year wasn't unwarranted.

Happy for Garver, who showed two games innarow that he can play. Twins may still be open to a new catcher, but I think he holds the fort for now.

Rosario is money, He just makes things happen. And he is having a great year already.

Another good outing for Gibson, who seems to have maintained what was working for him last year.  Maybe his light bulb has finally clicked on. 

A lot being made today about Trout’s nice slide on that play at third. That’s ok. Sliding is almost a lost art. I am glad to see that part of the game get airplay.  Trout made a nice slide, no doubt. He earned the base. But if Eddie had been at the base instead of six feet off, Rosie woulda thrown there. And the throw would have beaten Trout by a mile. Eduardo would probably admit that after seeing film. But mental errors don’t count as errors.

Did anyone else get a kick out of Buxton’s hat flipping so high in the air?