Twins Game Recap (8/14): Twins Can’t Sweep, Polanco Commits Costly Error

Box Score

Gibson: 5 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 59.8 % strikes (55 of 92 pitches)

Bullpen: 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Home Runs: Sano (21), Garver (23), Rosario (26)

Multi-Hit Games: None

Top 3 WPA: Sano .114, Rosario .155, Polanco .157

Bottom 3 WPA: Garver -.136 Cron -.199, Romo -.685

After a back and forth first five innings, things quieted down for the most part for the next three innings. The Brewers made Sam Dyson and Trevor May work for their three outs, but each got away while facing four batters. Sergio Romo was given the eighth inning and saw the lead wash away.

On a routine ground ball to Jorge Polanco, Polanco committed his second error of the game, and third of the series. After a weak ground ball up the middle, the Brewers had a big threat late with runners on the corners with no outs. Last night the Twins got a big three-run homer, tonight it was the Brewers.

Rookie Trent Grisham hit just his second home run of his career, but it was crucial for the Brewers in today’s game as they are contending for a wild card spot right now. This put the Brewers up 5-4 going into the ninth.

Twins Offense Strikes Early; Goes Quiet

Mitch Garver took the place for Max Kepler in the leadoff spot today as lefty Gio Gonzalez was on the mound for the Brewers. GarvSauce got the action going as he led off the game with a solo shot to right. After two strikeouts followed, Eddie Rosario hit another oppo shot for his 100th career home run.

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After a quiet second inning, Miguel Sano hit the third bomba of the day in just three innings. Sano blasted the shot to left-center field for a SanoDoubter to extend the lead back to two.

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The Brewers answered again to bring the score to 3-2, but the Twins opened it right back up. Kepler drew his second walk of the game. That was followed by a double for Schoop bringing Gibson up to bat with runners on second and third with one out. Gibson showed great patience at the plate drawing a full-count walk to load the bases.

Bases loaded, the Twins kryptonite so far this year. Gonzalez picked up a huge strikeout against Garver for the second out of the inning. However, Polanco had no intentions of letting this opportunity go to waste as he ripped a two-RBI single to extend the Twins lead to 5-2 and ending Gio Gonzalez’s day.

After scoring five runs in the first four innings, the Twins offense really quieted down during the second half of the game. Between the fifth and the ninth, the Twins got just one runner in scoring position when Ehire Adrianza pinch hit for Gibson and got a triple. Garver followed that with a line drive straight to third base, and Adrianza was doubled off.

The Twins got just two other base runners and that came from C.J. Cron getting hit by a pitch twice. In the ninth, the Twins drew three straight walks to load the bases with two outs. Another bases-loaded opportunity for the Twins, but this time they failed to execute as Cron flew out to end the game.

Gibson Minimizes Damage

After having one of his worst starts his last time out against a division rival, Gibson looked to not struggle with his control again. Though he did struggle with his control today, he was able to strand seven runners and keep the damage minimal.

After he got some early run support in the first, he allowed a lead off single followed by a walk. Gibson picked up a huge strikeout against Christian Yelich for the first out of the inning. A one-out single brought in the lead runner, and after an error that should’ve been a double play, Gibson found himself with the bases loaded with one out. Gibson got the ensuing batter to ground out, and this time the Twins were able to turn two.

In the second inning, Gibson allowed a leadoff double, and later a two-out walk, and he found himself in a jam yet again. On the first pitch of the next at-bat, he got Grandal to ground out to end the inning.

The Brewers put together three singles to score another run, and with two outs, Gibson found himself in yet another jam with runners on second and third. He picked up another huge strikeout, this time on Arcia, on a 3-2 curveball to end the inning.

In the fifth, Gibson gave up a one-out double to Moustakas and was able to get Cain to ground out on the next at-bat. With two outs and Moustakas on third, Thames picked up his third hit of the day driving in the Brewers third run. Gibson struck out Gamel to end the inning, and also his day, as he was pinch-hit for in the next inning.

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Click here for a review of the number of pitches thrown by each member of the bullpen over the past five days.