[faithful2thecall]

June 16, 2017

• Addison Russell (Chicago Cubs) is out 6 weeks with a concussion.

Minnesota 5 at Milwaukee 4

WP: Chris Heston (6-2), LP: Jamie Garcia (2-1), SV: Glen Perkins (19)
HR: MN-None, Mil-Taylor Motter (4), Ryan Braun (5)

We scored in the 1st without a ball leaving the infield thanks to some aggressive base running. Byron Buxton led off with an infield single, then stole 2nd and 3rd on consecutive pitches before scoring on a RBI ground out by Jorge Polanco. Milwaukee caught a break in the bottom of the inning scoring on a 2 out wild pitch by Chris Heston. We regained the lead in the 4th on a sacrifice fly to the warning track in center by Aaron Hicks. Motter tied the game with a 2-out solo homer in the 5th. Braun then put the Brewers in front with a 2-out solo homer in the 6th. Heston was unfortunate, allowing only 3 hits in 7 innings of work—it’s just that 2 of them ended up in the seats. Hicks blooped a 2-out, 2-run single to left in the 8th with the bases loaded to put us back in front. Alfredo Marte followed with a RBI single of his own. The Brewers did get a run back on a 2-out wild pitch in the bottom of the inning.


June 17, 2017

• Justin Upton (Chicago Cubs) is out 5 weeks with a sprained wrist.
• Boston deals 3B Trey Cabbage (2015 3rd round pick by Pittsburgh) and RHP RP Jose Ma.Gonzalez to Detroit for RHP SP Drew VerHagen.

Minnesota 7 at Milwaukee 8

WP: Carson Smith (2-1), LP: Phil Coke (2-3), SV: Aroldis Chapman (21)
HR: MN-None, Mil-Taylor Motter (5), Orlando Arcia (1), Jaff Decker (11)

How fast is Byron Buxton? He stole 2nd base in the 1st inning on a 0-1 count despite Milwaukee pitching out. Jorge Polanco then grounded a RBI single into left for an early lead. We added another run in the inning as Alfredo Marte grounded into a bases loaded 4-6-3 double play. Decker blooped a RBI single to center in the bottom of the inning to get the Brewers on the board in front of a 3-run homer from Motter. Arcia’s 1st MLB homer was a leadoff jack in the 3rd to extend the deficit to 2-5. We put together a 2-out rally in the 7th when consecutive RBI singles by Joe Mauer, Aaron Hicks, and Marte brought us within 5-7. Then Chris Herrmann lined a 2-run double to the right-centerfield gap to tie the game. Unfortunately a 2-out wild pitch by Coke in the bottom of the inning gave the Brewers the lead back.


June 18, 2017

• With LF Eddie Rosario having now finished his recovery from injury, 2B Luis Mateo was optioned to AAA to free up a roster spot for him. Mateo was strangely immediately recalled and LF Alfredo Marte was sent down to AAA instead. I’m not sure why Marte wasn’t sent directly down in the 1st place.
• Texas trades 3B Arnoldo Brito (2016 4th round pick) to Cincinnati in exchange for RHP SP Raisel Iglesias and $3 million.

Minnesota 7 at Milwaukee 8 (12 innings)

WP: Carson Smith (3-1), LP: Ryan Buchter (4-2)
HR: MN-Hector Gomez (2), Mil-None

A 2-out RBI single by Eddie Rosario in the 1st opened the scoring. After Rosario stole 2nd on a failed hit-and-run, Danny Santana delivered a RBI single to double the lead. Chris Herrmann grounded a 2-out RBI single to right field in the 5th to provide some insurance, which Gomez followed by blowing the game open with a 3-run shot 374 feet into the left field seats. The Brewers got on the board in the bottom of the inning on a 1-out RBI single by Chris O’Brien. Milwaukee kept chipping away at the lead, as a RBI single in the 7th by Taylor Motter brought the Brewers within 6-4. A Jaff Decker RBI single in the 8th made it a 1-run game. O’Brien tied the game 2 batters later on a RBI single to center, though Byron Buxton threw out Niko Goodrum at the plate for the 2nd out on the play. We regained the lead in the 9th on a 1-out passed ball with Luis Mateo at the plate. Glen Perkins let me down though, as Ryan Braun grounded a 1-out RBI single through the 5.5 hole to tie the game again. We nearly took the lead in the 11th, but Chris Herrmann was thrown out at home on a single to left by Mateo on a great throw by Jaff Decker. Pinch-hitter Chris B. Young finally ended the game on a sacrifice fly in the 12th.


June 19, 2017

• Buster Posey (San Francisco) suffered a setback in his recovery from a sore forearm that will keep him out an additional 4 days.
• We’re 11th in the latest power rankings.
• San Diego trades CF Abraham Almonte to Seattle for 1B Justin Smoak and RF Dayton Dugas.
• The Chicago White Sox deals RHP RP Edinxon Arias to San Diego for RHP RP Kevin Quackenbush.

Minnesota at Cincinnati—Rained Out


June 20, 2017

• Philadelphia trades LHP SP Tony Cingrani and $1.42 million to Baltimore in exchange for SS Ryan Mountcastle (2015 1st round pick).

Game #1: Minnesota 7 at Cincinnati 8

WP: Chris Rearick (3-2), LP: Lester Oliveros (3-1), SV: Jason Motte (10)
HR: MN-None, Cin-Devin Mesoraco 2 (9)

The good thing about the rainout is that it means my bullpen got a chance to rest up after a rough series in Milwaukee. These 4 games (2 today, 2 the next 2 days at home) are a showcase for the 2 top base stealers in MLB—Byron Buxton and Billy Hamilton.

A throwing error on a bunt gave us runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out in the 4th for Danny Santana, who hit a sacrifice fly to open the scoring. The 2nd throwing error of the inning by Jefry Marte plated a 2nd run. Unfortunately, Hector Gomez was thrown out trying to advance to 3rd on a 2-out RBI single by Buxton which meant we had to settle for a 3-0 lead. Mesoraco’s 1-out, 2-run homer in the bottom of the inning was the Reds’ 1st hit and Phil Hughes’ last pitch as he was injured (mild calf strain, day-to-day 5 days) on the play. Eddie Rosario lined a 1-out RBI single to left in the 5th to give us some insurance back. A sacrifice fly in the 6th by Orlando Calixte brought the Reds back within 4-3. Then with 2 outs in the inning, Mesoraco chopped a RBI single over Gomez’ head to tie the game. To make things worse, Steven Selke grounded a 2-run single up the middle 2 batters later to give the Reds the lead. We loaded the bases with nobody out in the 7th for Rosario, who struck out but Santana picked him up with a RBI single to make it 5-6. After Austin Barnes struck out with the bases still loaded, Gomez coaxed an RBI walk to tie the game. In the 8th, Rosario lined a 2-out RBI single to center to give us a 7-6 lead. Oliveros let me down again, giving up a 2-run homer to Mesoraco in the bottom of the inning to put the Reds back in front.


Game #2: Minnesota 6 at Cincinnati 1

WP: Andre Rienzo (5-2), LP: Zach Petrick (4-10)
HR: MN-Hector Gomez (3), Aaron Hicks (7), Cin-Jesse Winker (12)

The injury to Hughes really ate up my bullpen in game #1, and with Rienzo on the mound for this game I was already cringing before the 1st pitch at how ugly it could get. Winker opened the scoring with a 2-out solo shot in the 5th as both starters were in control. A successful hit-and-run single by Joe Mauer gave us our 1st scoring chance in the 6th putting runners on the corners with 1 out, but Hicks struck out and Eddie Rosario flew out to quash the threat. Gomez pulled a 3-run homer to left just inside the foul post to give us the lead in the 7th. Hicks provided some insurance in the 8th with a 2-run homer that went 410 feet to center. A 75 minute rain delay later in the top of the 8th complicated matters.


June 21, 2017

Cincinnati 2 at Minnesota 8

WP: Chris Heston (7-2), LP: Homer Bailey (2-9)
HR: Cin-None, MN-Aaron Hicks (8)

Jesse Winker picked up a RBI ground out in the 1st to open the scoring. We responded in the bottom of the inning on a 1-out RBI single by Joe Mauer, which Kennys Vargas followed with a RBI double to put us in front. Before the inning was over we’d sent 10 men to the plate and scored 5 runs. Hicks pretty well put the game out of reach with a 2-out, 2-run homer in the 4th that made it 7-1.


June 22, 2017

• Tim Lincecum (Chicago White Sox) is out 4-5 months due to ulnar nerve irritation.
• Cincinnati deals 1B Chris Parmelee and $3 million to Atlanta in exchange for RHP SP Matt Vogel (2016 3rd round pick).

Cincinnati 1 at Minnesota 2

WP: Jason Wheeler (6-1), LP: Keyvius Sampson (0-1), SV: Glen Perkins (20)
HR: Cin-None, MN-None

Cincinnati’s Sampson was given his 1st MLB start on the mound. The pitchers were in solid control of the game. Sampson dug himself a hole in the 4th by walking back-to-back hitters to load the bases with nobody out for Luis Mateo, who hit a sacrifice fly to open the scoring. Eddie Rosario was injured (knee sprain, 4 weeks) being forced out at 2nd on a fielder’s choice. Adam Walker provided some insurance by drawing a 2-out bases loaded walk in the 7th to make it 2-0. Wheeler was unfortunately denied a chance to complete the shutout by a 63 minute rain delay in the 8th, giving up 2 hits in 7.1 innings (the 2nd while I was trying to warm up Nick Burdi after the rain delay), striking out 7. Billy Hamilton drew a bases loaded walk in the 8th to get the Reds on the board. Perkins made it a bit hairy in the 9th, but secured the win to move us to 10 games over .500 on the season.


June 23, 2017

• SS Luis Mateo was sent down to AAA with LF Andy Dirks was called up to provide some outfield depth.
• Allen Craig (Boston) suffered a setback in his recovery from a sore knee that will keep him out an additional 6 days.
• Baltimore fired manager Buck Showalter.

Tampa Bay 2 at Minnesota 6

WP: Jose Berrios (2-7), LP: Nate Karns (3-7), SV: Phil Coke (1)
HR: TB-None, MN-Kennys Vargas (5), Jorge Polanco (5)

Corey Dickerson ripped a 1-out RBI double off the left-centerfield wall in the 1st to open the scoring. Jordy Mercer added a sacrifice fly in the 2nd to extend the Tampa Bay lead. We loaded the bases with 1 out in the 4th for Hector Gomez, who struck out, but Byron Buxton picked him up by grounding a 2-run single through the 5.5 hole to tie the game. Polanco followed by ripping a RBI single to right to put us in front. A wild pitch in the 5th gave us another run. After a rough 1st couple of innings, Berrios settled in to give up only the 2 runs over 6.2 innings while striking out 10. Vargas provided insurance with a leadoff homer in the 7th. Polanco then added a 1-out solo homer in the 8th. Buxton was injured (back soreness, 4 days) running down a fly ball on the warning track to end the game. Coke delivered 2.1 innings of perfect relief to pick up the save.


June 24, 2017

• George Springer (Houston) is out 4 weeks with shoulder soreness.

Tampa Bay 5 at Minnesota 6 (12 innings)

WP: Glen Perkins (1-1), LP: Jerry Blevins (2-3)
HR: TB-Nick Franklin (3) Corey Dickerson (7), MN-None

We entered this game with a really shallow bench with 2/3 of my starting outfield injured and unavailable but still on the active roster. Kennys Vargas got us on the board in the 1st on a sacrifice fly to deep center. Franklin put Tampa Bay in front with a 2-run homer in the 2nd. Dickerson crushed a Phil Hughes fastball 426 feet to center for a 2-out solo homer in the 3rd to give the Rays some insurance. We kept chipping away at the Tampa Bay lead, and with Andy Dirk’s 2nd RBI single of the day in the 6th we cut the deficit to 4-5. Then with 1 out in the 8th, Austin Barnes blooped a RBI single to center that brought around Danny Santana to tie the game at 5-5. Finally in the 12th, Barnes delivered again. This time it was a walk-off sacrifice fly to send the home fans away smiling.

• Francisco Martinez (Detroit) hit 3 homers in a 11-5 win over St. Louis at Comerica Park. He had 8 RBIs and scored 4 runs on the day.


June 25, 2017

• With Rosario’s diagnosis sending him to the DL today, SS Luis Mateo was recalled from AAA.
• St. Louis trades LHP SP Tim Cooney and $507,500 to Boston in exchange for RHP SP Triston McKenzie (2015 2nd round pick).
• Atlanta deals RHP SP Cody Martin to Cincinnati for 3B Gavin LaValley and RHP SP Dominic Taccoloni.

Tampa Bay 7 at Minnesota 8 (10 innings)

WP: Lester Oliveros (4-1), LP: Alex Cobb (4-5)
HR: TB-None, MN-Jorge Polanco (6)

A sacrifice fly by Oscar Hernandez in the 1st opened the scoring. An already exhausted Tampa Bay bullpen (they had only 1 reliever listed as rested at the start of the game) suffered a blow in the bottom of the 1st when starter Jarred Cosart had to leave after giving up a 1-out double to Joe Mauer with an injury (elbow inflammation, 1 week) 3 batters into the game. Kennys Vargas greeted reliever Aaron Kurcz by grounding a 2-run single up the middle to put us in front. Vargas added a 2-out, 2-run single in the 2nd to make it 4-1. Hernandez added a RBI double in the 5th to pull the Rays back within 4-2. Later in the inning, Daniel Robertson added a 2-out RBI single to make it a 1 run game. Polanco hit a 2-out solo homer in the 6th to extend the lead to 5-3. 2 batters later, Mauer added a RBI double laced just inside the 3rd base bag. Tampa Bay threw poor reliever Jerry Blevins to the wolves since he was the last man out of their pen, leaving him in far beyond the point of exhaustion (ultimately he threw 57 pitches in the game when he was already fatigued when he took the mound). The Rays would not go quietly however, as a 2-run triple by Hernandez in the 9th made it 7-5 and made me start loosening up Glen Perkins in the bullpen, then a wild pitch made it a 1 run game. Robertson then delivered a RBI single to tie the game. After tying the game in the 9th, Tampa Bay sent starter Cobb to the mound. Vargas proved to be the hero with a 2-out RBI double following a Mauer walk in the 10th.

• Blake Swihart (Boston) was injured with a strained abdominal muscle while running the bases in today’s game and will be out 5-6 weeks.
• John Danks (New York Yankees) threw a 6-hitter against Kansas City.


June 26, 2017

• We’re 4th in the latest power rankings.

Minnesota 10 at Oakland 1

WP: Chris Heston (8-2), LP: Johnny Cueto (3-8)
HR: MN-Adam Walker (3), Oak-None

We’re catching Oakland at a good time, as they’ve lost 6 straight coming into this series. Chris Heston had a dream 1st inning throwing 3 pitches to retire the side. Aaron Hicks laced a RBI triple into the right field corner in the 2nd to open the scoring, who came in to score on a RBI groundout by Danny Santana. Hicks added a 2-out RBI single in the lead to provide more insurance. Josh Whitaker got Oakland on the board with a 2-out RBI single in the 4th. We got the run back on a 1-out RBI double by Kennys Vargas in the 5th. Walker seemed to put the game away with a 1-out, 2-run homer in the 6th that made it 6-1. The Oakland bullpen continued to struggle after that as we added to our lead in the late innings


June 27, 2017

Minnesota 6 at Oakland 0

WP: Jason Wheeler (7-1), LP: Jesse Hahn (6-6)
HR: MN-Byron Buxton (3), Oak-None

Jason Wheeler squirmed his way out of a bases loaded 1-out jam in the 1st by coaxing Matt Olson to ground into a double play. Buxton delivered a 1-out RBI single in the 3rd to open the scoring in his return from injury. 2 batters later, Joe Mauer grounded a 2-out RBI single through the 5.5 hold to double the lead. Andy Dirks added some insurance with a RBI sacrifice fly in the 4th. Buxton then added a 1-out solo homer in the 5th to seemingly put the game away. Only a high pitch count prevented Wheeler from getting a chance to complete the shutout, as I lifted him after 8 innings where he gave up 6 hits, while walking 2 and striking out 1, on 109 pitches.

• With the win we move into a tie with Detroit and Cleveland for the AL Central lead and both wild card spots.


June 28, 2017

Minnesota 1 at Oakland 0

WP: Jose Berrios (3-7), LP: Kendall Graveman (6-5)
HR: MN-Kennys Vargas (6), Oak-None

Both starters were dealing in the series finale as Graveman and Berrios traded zeroes. Vargas didn’t get the fat part of the bat on a 90 MPH fastball with 2 outs in the 5th, but he got just enough of it to send it 399 feet into the right-centerfield bleachers for a solo homer to open the scoring. Berrios completed the 2-hitter, striking out 8 while issuing no walks (but 1 HBP), facing 1 batter over the minimum thanks to 2 double plays, while throwing 106 pitches. It was a very unlikely shutout as Berrios had entered the game with a 6.11 ERA. Combined the teams only accumulated 5 hits.


June 29, 2017

Off Day


June 30, 2017

Minnesota 2 at Los Angeles Angels 5

WP: Trevor Rosenthal (2-2), LP: Ryan Buchter (4-3), SV: Craig Kimbrel (14)
HR: MN-None, LAA-Matt Joyce (11)

After a dominating series in Oakland, we traveled to Anaheim for the 2nd series of a 9 game west coast swing to face the AL West leading Angels. Kennys Vargas provided a 1st inning spark this time with a 2-out RBI double over the right fielder’s head. 2 batters later, Andy Dirks lined a RBI single up the middle to double the lead. Joyce hit a 2-out solo homer in the 5th to get the Angels on the board, and was the 1st run we’d given up in 28 innings. Both pitchers were dominant again. A sacrifice fly by Edwin Encarnacion in the 8th tied the game. A throwing error by Hector Gomez gave the Angels the lead, and by the time the 8th was over the Angels had scored 4 runs on 1 hit as Ryan Buchter struggled with his control. We couldn’t get anything going in the 9th as our 9 game winning streak came to an end.

• Prince Fielder (Texas) and R. J. Alvarez (Oakland) were each suspended 7 games for their parts in a benches-clearing brawl involving their teams.

AL Batter of the Month: Joey Gallo (Texas) .365 BA, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 20 R, .470 OBP
NL Batter of the Month: Bryce Harper (Washington) .327 BA, 10 HR, 25 RBI, 21 R
AL Pitcher of the Month: Buck Farmer (Detroit) 4-1, 6 GS, 2.35 ERA, 31 K, 38.1 IP
NL Pitcher of the Month: Kyle Hendricks (Chicago Cubs) 4-0. 6 GS, 1.28 ERA, 42.1 IP, 30 K
AL Rookie of the Month: Eric Jaglielo (Kansas City) .375 BA, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 15 R
NL Rookie of the Month: Taylor Motter (Milwaukee) .317 BA, 3 HR, 15 R, 16 RBI


44-29, .603, 1.5 GB (2nd AL Central), 5.5 GA (1st wild card)


An 18-8 June to back up a 19-9 May has us playing some of the best baseball in MLB right now. My bullpen hasn’t been as dominant, but our offense has usually been picking up the slack. I’m beginning to believe that this roster with no more than a couple of guys signed to minor league deals after being the worst team in MLB last season is a legitimate playoff contender.