[faithful2thecall]

July 1, 2015

Minnesota 5 at Cincinnati 2

WP: Kyle Gibson (3-7), LP: Mike Leake (4-8), SV: Glen Perkins (24)
HR: MN-Joe Mauer (4), Trevor Plouffe (8), Cin-Billy Hamilton (4), Chris Parmelee (7)

Mauer’s 2-out solo homer in the 1st opened the scoring. Hamilton responded with a leadoff homer in the 3rd to tie the game. Parmelee led off the 4th with a homer to give the Reds the lead. Plouffe extended his hitting streak to 14 games in a big way in the 5th with a 1-out, 3-run blast to put us back in front. Our bullpen delivered 4 shutout innings to secure the win.


July 2, 2015

Minnesota 7 at Kansas City 2

WP: Ricky Nolasco (9-5), LP: Edinson Volquez (4-6)
HR: MN-Oswaldo Arcia (11), KC-Christian Colon (2)

The teams exchanged 1st inning runs. Arcia and Colon then exchanged solo homers in the 2nd. The pitchers settled down after that. A throwing error by catcher Francisco Pena on a swinging bunt allowed the go-ahead run to score in the 5th. In the 8th we broke out the bats and blew the game open with a 4 run inning—highlighted by a 2-run triple by Brian Dozier.

• Doug Fister (Washington) threw a 4-hitter against Atlanta.


July 3, 2015

• Chicago White Sox trades SS Juan H. Diaz and SS Leury Garcia to Miami for RHP SP Sam Dyson.
• Houston trades RHP CL Jason Stoffel to Texas for RF Jose V. Almonte
• Colorado trades RHP RP Adam Ottavino to Baltimore for LHP SP Brian Gonzalez

Minnesota 2 at Kansas City 3

WP: Greg Holland (4-3), LP: Tim Stauffer (3-1), SV: Jason Frasor (2)
HR: MN-None, KC-None

Batters on both sides weren’t happy with the generous strike zone the pitchers were being given in this game. The game was scoreless until the 4th when we got a double from Kennys Vargas followed by a RBI triple from Shane Robinson to open the inning. Robinson trotted home on a sacrifice fly by Eduardo Nunez. The Royals didn’t get on the board until Andruw Jones grounded out for the 2nd out of the 7th. They then stunningly scored 2 runs off of Stauffer in the 8th to take the lead (who had an ERA of 1.26 entering the game).

• Sonny Gray (Oakland) threw a 3-hitter against Seattle for his 2nd shutout of the season.


July 4, 2015

• Boston trades LHP SP Wade Miley and $3 million to Houston for CF Brett Phillips.
• Colorado trades C Matt McBride and RHP RP Austin House to Arizona for 1B Jorge Cantu.

Minnesota 3 at Kansas City 6

WP: Christian Binford (1-0), LP: Ervin Santana (0-1), SV: Luke Hochevar (1)
HR: MN-None, KC-Mike Moustakas (7)

The pitching matchup for the Independence Day game had the potential for fireworks as the Royals sent out Binford for his MLB debut against Santana in his Twins debut after a drug suspension. Some miscommunication in the outfield allowed us to score in the 1st on 3 straight singles. Moustakas tied the game in the 2nd with a 1-out homer. Things came a bit unglued after that with back-to-back triples by Erik Kratz and Omar Infante and an uncharacteristic error by Joe Mauer allowing the Royals to add 2 more runs in the inning. Then to add insult to injury, Oswaldo Arcia was injured (torn fingernail, day-to-day for 3 days) throwing out a runner at home to end the inning. Back-to-back doubles in the 4th by Shane Robinson and Eduardo Escobar allowed us to get a run back. Alex Rios would later be injured on a RBI double in the 7th that made it 2-5.


July 5, 2015

• Milwaukee trades LF Matt Clark and RF Mitch Meyer to Colorado for RF Drew Stubbs.
• Kansas City trades RHP CL Wade Davis to the New York Mets for 1B Dominic Smith and 2B Branden Kaupe.

Minnesota 1 at Kansas City 5

WP: Yordano Ventura (6-8), LP: Phil Hughes (4-6)
HR: MN-Kurt Suzuki (1), KC-None

Hughes had early issues, giving up 2 runs in the 1st. The Royals added 3 more in the 4th to blow the game open. Suzuki finally got us on the board in the 5th on a 1-out solo homer. We were getting hits, but they were scattered.


July 6, 2015

• LF Shane Victorino has recovered from injury, CF Shane Robinson was sent to AAA.
• We’re 23rd in the latest power rankings.
• Tampa Bay trades RHP SP Matt Andriese and $507,500 to Texas for SS Ti’Quan Forbes.
• Tampa Bay sends RHP SP Chris Archer and $1 million to Texas for SS Juremi Profar.

Baltimore 6 at Minnesota 1

WP: T.J. McFarland (2-3), LP: Kyle Gibson (3-8)
HR: Bal-Chris Davis (24), MN-None

Baltimore got on the board 1st in the 3rd on a 2-out single by David Lough. Wei-Yin Chen was injured (back tightness, day-to-day 1 day) with 1-out in the 3rd. We didn’t get a hit until a 2-out single by Shane Victorino in the 4th. Ryan Flaherty was injured (mild calf strain, day-to-day 2 days) fielding a grounder to end the 4th. The Orioles blew the game open with a 4 run 5th, capped by a 2-out, 2-run Davis homer. A 1-out double by Jordan Schafer in the 6th finally got us on the board.

• Zack Greinke (Los Angeles Dodgers) threw a 4-hitter against Philadelphia.
• Buster Posey (San Francisco) had a 20 game hitting streak end at the New York Mets.
• Tony Sipp (Houston) takes an indefinite personal leave to deal with “personal issues.”


July 7, 2015

• Cleveland trades LHP SP Justus Sheffield and RHP SP Felix Tati from the New York Mets for RHP RP Jenry Mejia and $2,595,000.

Baltimore 1 at Minnesota 5

WP: Ricky Nolasco (10-5), LP: Brandon Morrow (6-7)
HR: Bal-Ryan Flaherty (5), MN-None

Trevor Plouffe ripped a double into the right field corner with 1-out in the 1st to open the scoring. We broke the game open in the 6th with 4 runs, and almost 4 more as Plouffe hit one to the warning track with 2 outs and the bases loaded but David Lough ran it down. Lough then added insult to injury by leading off the 7th with a ground ball single to right for Baltimore’s 1st hit. Flaherty hit a 2-out homer in the 8th to get the Orioles on the board with their 2nd and final hit. Glen Perkins came in to nail it down in the 9th.


July 8, 2015

• Arizona trades RHP RP Kevin Monson to Kansas City for SS Orlando Calixte and C Meibrys Viloria.

Baltimore 2 at Minnesota 1

WP: Brian Mautsz (4-0), LP: Casey Fien (0-4), SV: Darren O’Day (18)
HR: Bal-Dariel Alvarez (3), MN-None

We got on the board 1st in the 3rd on a bloop double by Brian Dozier, bringing in Kurt Suzuki who had tripled. Trevor May was effectively wild, though he did walk 5 batters in 5 innings of 2-hit ball with 6 strike outs. Alvarez tied the game with a 2-out homer in the 6th. Manny Machado put the Orioles in front in the 7th on a 2-out double down the left field line.

• Kole Calhoun (Los Angeles Angels) had a 6-for-6 day at the plate against Colorado (3 singles, 3 doubles, 6 RBIs).


July 9, 2015

• Arizona trades RHP SP Chase Anderson to Baltimore for RHP Pat Connaughton and LHP RP Daniel Ayers.

Detroit 2 at Minnesota 5

WP: Ervin Santana (1-1), LP: David Price (7-8), SV: Glen Perkins (25)
HR: Det-Miguel Cabrera (12), MN-None

For our struggling team a visit from the Tigers is the last thing we needed, as we’re 1-8 against them this season. To try to spark my struggling offense I shuffled my lineup a bit. We got on the board 1st in the 2nd on a 1-out single by Danny Santana to score AL stolen base leader Jordan Schafer. Ervin Santana escaped a bases loaded, 1-out jam in the 4th by inducing a double play grounder from Luis Antonio Jimenez. We blew the game open and chased Price with 3 runs in the 5th. Cabrera got the Tigers on the board with a 1-out solo homer in the 8th, and they added another run in the inning on back-to-back doubles. We got 1 of those runs back in the bottom of the inning before turning it over to MLB saves leader, Perkins, to slam the door.

• Dallas Keuchel (Houston) threw a 4-hitter against Cleveland.


July 10, 2015

• Toronto trades RHP RP to the Chicago White Sox for RHP SP J.B. Wendelken.

Detroit 5 at Minnesota 6

WP: Phil Hughes (5-6), LP: Bud Norris (6-6), SV: Glen Perkins (26)
HR: Det-Miguel Cabrera (13), MN-Kennys Vargas (2)

Cabrera hit a 2-run homer with 1-out in the 1st to open the scoring. Vargas hit a 1-out homer in the 2nd to get us on the board. Later in the inning, Jordan Schafer ripped a liner into right field for a game-tying single. We took the lead in the 3rd on a RBI ground out and added another run on a RBI fielder’s choice both by Oswaldo Arcia. We added 2 more in the 6th, and we needed it as Detroit scored 3 runs in the 8th to cut the lead to 6-5. An errant pickoff attempt in the 9th made things a bit scary, but Perkins struck out Rajai Davis with a runner on 3rd to seal the win.


July 11, 2015

• Colorado trades 1B Wilin Rosario to Philadelphia for C Lenin Rodriguez and 3B William Cuicas.
• Boston trades LHP SP Robbie Ross Jr. and $512,745 to Toronto for 3B Mitch Nay
• Toronto deals RHP RP Preston Guilmet to Arizona in exchange for C Jose Herrera and LF Cody Lavalli.

Detroit 4 at Minnesota 3 (14 innings)

WP: Blaine Hardy (2-1), LP: Caleb Thielbar (3-4)
HR: Det-Alex Avila (8), MN-None

Despite loading the bases with nobody out in the 1st, we only managed 1 run on a Oswaldo Arcia fielder’s choice to open the scoring. The lead didn’t last long as Avila hit a 2-run homer in the 2nd to put Detroit in front. Good defense and stellar pitching took over after that. Arcia came through again in the 7th with a 2-out single to tie the game. Pinch hitter Danny Santana delivered a go-ahead single with 2-outs in the 8th. Unfortunately, Detroit got to Glen Perkins in the 9th for his 3rd blown save of the season on a 2-out single by Ian Kinsler. Tim Stauffer, my ace reliever, was injured (mild abdominal strain, day-to-day 4 days) coaxing the double play that ended the 11th. Detroit finally broke through in the 14th on a double by Luis Antonio Jiminez.

• Ryan Zimmerman (Washington, 2 games) and Kevin Gausman (Baltimore, 6 games) each suspended for their part in a brawl between their teams.


July 12, 2015

• The All-Star teams were announced. SP Ricky Nolasco was selected as our representative.
• Chicago Cubs trade RF Samir Lara to Milwaukee for RHP RP Rob Wooten.
• Los Angeles Dodgers trade 3B Juan Uribe and RHP CL James Campbell to San Francisco for RHP SP Tim Hudson and $3 million.
• Pittsburgh deals 2B Neil Walker to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for RHP SP Jeff Samardizija.

Detroit 4 at Minnesota 5

WP: Michael Tonkin (2-4), LP: Alex Wilson (0-2)
HR: Det-None, MN-Trevor Plouffe (9)

While Detroit had chances early, leaving the bases loaded in the 2nd and a runner at 3rd in the 3rd, the game remained scoreless. We finally got our 1st hit with 2 outs in the 4th when Kurt Suzuki bounced a RBI single into left. The lead didn’t last long as Alex Avila grounded a 2-out single up the middle in the 5th to tie the game. J.D. Martinez put Detroit in front on a 2-out RBI single in the 7th. A Tigers insurance run later in the inning didn’t help though, as we responded with 3 in the bottom of the inning—highlighted by a 2-out, 2-run homer by Plouffe. Justin Verlander seemed to have it in for our offense, hitting 4 batters (his bullpen added an additional 1). With Glen Perkins having seen a lot of action recently, I brought in Tonkin to try to close it out but Detroit hit him all over the place with 3 straight singles to start the 9th, but they only managed a run on a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Tonkin was bailed out by my offense as a single by Joe Mauer and a double by Plouffe put runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out and then Detroit made the mistake of pitching to Oswaldo Arcia, who promptly hit a sacrifice fly to send the home fans home happy.

Justin Verlander had an odd line in this game. 6.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 4 HBP

• Kyuji Fujikawa’s (Texas) son, Theo, started school at the elite Winthrop Aces.


July 13, 2015

• Bryce Harper (Washington) out 3 months with a fractured fibula.
• We’re 19th in the latest power rankings.

All-Star Break

July 14, 2015
• Toronto trades LF Michael Saunders to the Los Angeles Angels for RHP CL Huston Street and LHP RP Delfo Terrero.

National League 7, American League 2

MVP: Travis d’Arnaud (New York Mets) 1-for-1, HR, 2 RBI in the 9th inning off of Danny Farquhar.

Twins: Ricky Nolasco came in 2 batters after the d’Arnaud homer to get the final out.

July 16, 2015

• Tampa Bay trades LHP SP Matt Moore and $2,492,500 to Arizona for C Oscar Hernandez and RF Jacob Cordero
• Terry Ryan acquires C Josh Phegley from Oakland for SS/Utility Eduardo Nunez and 3B Miguel Sano.

I’m thinking Ryan has completely lost his mind right now unless he has something in the works that I don’t know about. Phegley is a back-up catcher and to give up a good utility player and one of my top prospects for him?! It’s insane.


41-47, 7.5 GB (4th AL Central), 4.5 GB (7th AL Wild Card)

Winning 3 of 4 against Detroit going into the All-Star break was good momentum but probably only delayed the inevitable. The news on the Stauffer injury was fortunate, as he’s an impending free agent having a career year so somebody likely will make Ryan an offer for him.

Our problems continue to be largely the same. We’re not converting our hits into runs and we’re still giving up too many runs (especially the bullpen). I’ve also come to realize we have too many left-handed hitting outfielders which limits my options without burning 2 players in the late innings when trying to rally from behind. Some help will be coming in the form of Torri Hunter, who we get back in a couple of days.

What we need depends on if Terry Ryan wants to make a playoff push or if he wants to build for next year. If we’re going to try to make the playoffs, we need bullpen help (especially middle relief and another lefty) and a right-handed hitting outfielder (though Hunter may fill that need). If we’re going to build for next year, Ryan needs to turn some of our pending free agents into prospects and give me a chance to play some of the youngsters.