Twins 7, Royals 4: Twins Complete First Opening Series Sweep Since 2017

Fitting that KC was 0-infinity with RISP through 3 games and the streak was snapped 2 batters into Pagan's 9th inning appearance. 

Happy that Gallo has finally woke up his bat but Kepler's is still sleeping. Great to sweep KC & be in 1st. But CLE has played SEA tough, we'll have our hands full.

Glad to see Joey catch a couple!  Sorry to see Pagan appears to be the same Pagan we thought he was, even in low leverage this time 🤐

Couple of positive signs: Buck is hitting the ball hard without being in severe pull mode. Larnach also looks good at the plate. Not chasing and then putting good swings on the ball when they come to him. One subtle thing is that Jax had to get warm in a hurry when Pagan started doing his thing. Might not be available tomorrow. 

With the new schedules this year we play KC 6 fewer times than in the past (13 vs 19)...so a total of 12 fewer games against KC and Detroit.

Of course, Chicago and Cleveland get 12 fewer games against them as well. And, both Chi and Cle played good teams tough on the road to open the season.

Watching Twins on MLB.tv on computer.  Wish I could be there for home opener but it's 1200 miles away.  I'm a MN native. Had a left side front row seat right near Lenny Green in 1962 or so, long time ago in the original Met.

8 minutes ago, LewFordLives said:

Interesting bullpen usage today. Is something wrong with Duran? He looked fine on Thursday, but Rocco goes with Lopez for the third day in a row and then Pagan for the ninth.

I'm guessing since it was a 4-run game going into the ninth, Rocco wanted to hold off on Duran...as Monday is not an off-day. Still, I did think it slightly odd that Duran didn't see action on Saturday...and also, find it interesting that Rocco still trusts Pagan in the 9th inning of a 4-run game.

2 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

I'm guessing since it was a 4-run game going into the ninth, Rocco wanted to hold off on Duran...as Monday is not an off-day. Still, I did think it slightly odd that Duran didn't see action on Saturday...and also, find it interesting that Rocco still trusts Pagan in the 9th inning of a 4-run game.

According to reports, Duran woke up on Saturday with a neck kink. So they were holding him out yesterday and today.

Sands continues to feel like a waste of a roster spot. I don’t think there will be many games where we need a reliever to pitch 3+ innings, especially considering the depth of this starting staff. 

51 minutes ago, LewFordLives said:

Interesting bullpen usage today. Is something wrong with Duran? He looked fine on Thursday, but Rocco goes with Lopez for the third day in a row and then Pagan for the ninth.

I wasn't surprised to see Lopez get the 8th inning as he only needed 8 pitches yesterday to lock down the 9th inning.  I was pretty certain that neither Jax nor Thielbar would get called on.  What shouldn't be surprising was Rocco going to Pagan in the 9th.  The time has long passed to have to spoon feed Pagan's confidence level.  It took Pagan only 4 pitches to serve up a ringing double and a scorched line drive for a single to force Rocco to get Jax warming up.  Pagan did recover, but luckily it was the Royals at the bottom of their lineup.  Hopefully, somebody in SP bullpen will pitch well enough over the next month to force a roster move resulting in Pagan getting dfa'ed.  

Count me in the minority here----thats fine, but if, as fans, we're going to be forced into watching Max Kepler's continued ineptitude at the plate----can we at LEAST see him moved down to the bottom third of the batting order?

Kepler is 0-13.  This is not a knee-jerk reaction to three bad games.  His hitting woes have been well documented over the past two years.  

I realize Kepler is not the only regular not hitting (Correa 2-13, Miranda 2-11 as well as others), but a move down in the lineup MIGHT get him going.  

If this team has aspirations of playing meaningful games in September, how long is the leash for Kepler being our everyday RF?

1 hour ago, GKuehl said:

Sands continues to feel like a waste of a roster spot. I don’t think there will be many games where we need a reliever to pitch 3+ innings, especially considering the depth of this starting staff. 

What a good problem to have.

The other good problem is this starting rotation. Very stingy so far, although only Ryan has completed 6. We'll see how that goes with Mahle, who might get there, and then Maeda, whose pitch limit is probably too low to get there. Rocco wouldn't let him go more than about 60 pitches first time out, would he? I'm just hoping Maeda has decent command, so he can go at least four. Then...bring in Sands, heh-heh!

2 hours ago, GKuehl said:

Sands continues to feel like a waste of a roster spot.

No, that is exactly why he is on the roster. Ober is better but they can't have him sitting on the bench for an extended length of time. Sands will eventually pitch when a starter goes out early or there is a serious blowout. If he pitches too many innings, they will then send him down and call up someone else for the long relief role.

I know it's only one appearance and one inning, but oooof, Pagan. There's a legion of fans who have wanted him gone from the jump and he's doing nothing to sell anyone on the idea that he's somehow been fixed.

Good to see Gallo get it going. He's likely to be a boom or bust player all year, but maybe he'll have enough games like this. Larnach has been playing very well and it's nice to see. I hope he stays healthy.

I know some may be "meh, who cares it's just sorry, no-account KC" but a sweep is a sweep, especially on the road. It's a fine way to start the season. Hopefully we can keep it going and win the series in Miami. Coming home at 5-1 would be awesome.

Bats break loose finally. All or nothing Gallo gets the point for the Game 3 victory on the offensive side of the ball. Ryan gets it for the pitching. 

Kepler/Gallo HITL watch thru 3 games: .130-BA, 2-HR, 4-RBI, 6-K's, 2-BB, 13-LOB. 

Off to Miami to see Arraez torment the Twins pitchers.

Gallo comes up huge with 2 hrs!!! First 3-0 since 2017!!  Pitch has been outstanding!!! Tough week of games this week/I’ll take 3-3,4-2 go twins!!!