[faithful2thecall]

August 17, 2017

• Dominic Leone (Colorado) is out 9-10 months due to a torn flexor tendon.

Texas 9 at Minnesota 4

WP: Roman Mendez (5-5), LP: Jose Berrios (5-9)
HR: Tex-Prince Fielder (20), Michael Choice (17), MN-Chris Herrmann (7)

Joey Gallo lined a 2-out RBI double to center in the 1st to open the scoring. We put together a rally in the 2nd loading the bases with 1 out for Brian Dozier, who grounded into a fielder’s choice to the pitcher where they got the out at home. Kennys Vargas picked him up by drawing a RBI 4-pitch walk to tie the game. Adam Walker followed it up by lacing an opposite field 2-run double to put us in front. Fielder hit a 2-out, 2-run homer just inside the right field foul post in the 5th to tie the game. Ryan Buchter came in for Berrios in the 8th after a leadoff single and walked the next 3 hitters to force in a run to give Texas the league. We then coaxed Roderick Shoulders to ground into a 4-2-3 double play. Choice then hammered a hung fastball 440 feet for a 3-run homer to put the game away.


August 18, 2017

• CF Aaron Hicks completed his rehab and rejoined the team. LF Alfredo Marte was optioned to AAA.

Texas 2 at Minnesota 3

WP: Lester Oliveros (6-2), LP: Alex Claudio (6-8)
HR: Tex-None, MN-Andy Dirks (4), Adam Walker (9)

There was a 43 minute rain delay in the 4th, but neither starter had to leave the game, which was good for the fans as Phil Hughes and Raisel Iglesias were dueling. Dirks finally opened the scoring with a leadoff homer in the 5th. My bullpen let me down as Rougned Odor blooped a 1-out, 2-run single in the 8th to put Texas in front. After Hector Gomez hit a 2-out triple in the bottom of the inning, Danny Santana brought him in with a RBI single to right. With 1 out in the 9th, Walker stepped up to the plate with a 2-1 count he stayed back on a changeup and hit it 377 feet into the left field seats for a walkoff.


August 19, 2017

Texas 2 at Minnesota 1 (12 innings)

WP: Jason Stoffel (2-0), LP: Luke Bard (3-4)
HR: Tex-Shin-Soo Choo (5), MN-None

I nearly turned my 1st triple play in the 1st inning, with Ryan Rua barely beating the throw to the bag after hitting a grounder to Hector Gomez at 3rd. Simon Castro kept wiggling his way out of jams to keep the game scoreless, as our offense wasn’t doing much against Anthony Desclafani. We finally opened the scoring in the 4th when Aaron Hicks ripped a RBI double off the wall that brought the slow-footed Kennys Vargas in all the way from 1st base. I finally had to lift Castro after 7 shutout innings where he gave up 7 hits and walked 1, while striking out 5 on 110 pitches. Ryan Buchter got burned for a 1-out RBI triple by Rua to tie the game in the 8th. Michael Choice was injured (oblique strain, 1 week) running down a Stuart Turner fly out to start the 9th. Choo led off the 12th with a homer to give the Rangers the lead. It’s hard to win a game when we only get 5 hits.

• Jordan Lyles (Philadelphia) threw a no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs. He walked 1 and struck out 7. The opposing starter, Jeff Samardzija drew a 1-out walk in the 6th for the Cubs only base runner.


August 20, 2017

Texas 1 at Minnesota 6

WP: Chris Heston (12-5), LP: Brad Hand (6-6)
HR: Tex-None, MN-Aaron Hicks (9)

Hicks hit a 1-out solo homer in the 2nd to open the scoring. We weren’t done, loading the bases with 1 out for Hector Gomez. Gomez hit a sacrifice fly to add some cushion before Jorge Polanco laced a 2-run triple into the left field corner. The Rangers got on the board when Jorge Alfaro grounded a 2-out RBI single to right field in the 5th. A wild pitch by Chris Archer in the 6th with the bases loaded gave us some insurance.


August 21, 2017

• We’re 8th in the latest power rankings.

Off Day


August 22, 2017

Minnesota 4 at Pittsburgh 7

WP: Kevin Munson (4-1), LP: Phil Coke (2-7), SV: Justin De Fratus (31)
HR: MN-Eddie Rosario (4), Pitt-Andrew McCutchen (18), Gregory Polanco (13), Starling Marte (4)

Chris Herrmann lined a 2-out RBI double into the right-centerfield gap in the 2nd to open the scoring. Gerrit Cole appeared rattled by allowing a leadoff double to Jason Wheeler in the 3rd, as 2 pitches later Rosario crushed a slider 415 feet to center to make it 3-0. McCutchen responded by drilling a 2-out solo homer 433 feet to left-centerfield to get the Pirates on the board in the bottom of the inning. Brian Dozier picked up Rosario in the 5th by lining a 2-out RBI single to right after Rosario struck out. Polanco struck back in the bottom of the inning by destroying a slider 454 feet for a 1-out, 3-run homer to tie the game. Marte got some help from the wind in hitting a 3-run homer off of Coke to give Pittsburgh the lead.


August 23, 2017

Minnesota 3 at Pittsburgh 1

WP: Jose Berrios (6-9), LP: Vance Worley (9-11), SV: Glen Perkins (31)
HR: MN-None, Pitt-Wilmer Flores (6)

I made a bold move in the 3rd inning to set up the game’s 1st run when I had Brian Dozier bunt with 1 out to move Berrios and Eddie Rosario into scoring position for Kennys Vargas. Vargas made Worley pay for walking Berrios by grounding a 2-run single up the middle. NL rules made me lift Berrios an inning earlier than I was hoping to because we put together a 2-out rally that got us to his place in the order, so he came out after 6 shutout innings scattering 4 hits. Jon Garcia came up with a RBI single as the pinch-hitter to give us some additional insurance. Flores greeted Joel Hanrahan with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the 7th to get the Pirates on the board. That was the only hit my bullpen allowed however, as we secured the split and matched our win total for last season.

• Nick Markakis (Arizona) and Max Scherzer (Washington) were both suspended 6 games for their roles in a benches-clearing brawl between their teams today.
• Cole Hamels (Philadelphia) threw a 5-hitter against Toronto.


August 24, 2017

Minnesota 7 at Tampa Bay 6 (13 innings)

WP: Glen Perkins (2-1), LP: Adys Portillo (7-5), SV: Nick Burdi (2)
HR: MN-Adam Walker (10), Andy Dirks (5), Jorge Polanco (7), Eddie Rosario (5), TB-Justin O’Conner (7)

O’Conner hit a leadoff homer in the 5th to open the scoring, as both starters were dominant early on. A Polanco throwing error set up more damage later in the inning as Tampa Bay scored 4 times before the inning was over, 2 of them unearned runs. We finally got on the board when Stuart Turner drew a 2-out, bases loaded walk in the 7th. Walker cut the deficit to 1 with a 2-out, 2-run homer in the 8th. Lester Oliveros didn’t do himself any favors in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with nobody out on 2 walks and a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt, but he redeemed himself by coaxing a fly out to short centerfield and 2 pop ups to escape the jam without giving up a run. Dirks hammered a 3-2 hanging slider for a leadoff homer in the 9th to tie the game. Polanco gave us the lead with a 2-out solo homer in the 11th. Unfortunately Glen Perkins let me down, surrendering a 1-out RBI single to Marcell Ozuna to tie the game, though we escaped the inning on a strike’em out-throw’em out double play. Rosario put us back in front with a leadoff homer in the 12th. Again Perkins couldn’t secure the win, surrendering a bloop 1-out RBI single to O’Conner. Rosario came through again with a 2-out RBI double in the 13th to give us another lead. This time Burdi retired the side in order to finally end the game.

• Sean Gilmartin (New York Mets) threw a 6-hitter against Atlanta.


August 25, 2017

Minnesota 0 at Tampa Bay 3

WP: Wilfredo Boscan (2-0), LP: Simon Castro (2-3)
HR: MN-None, TB-Corey Dickerson (11)

Marcell Ozuna lined a 2-out RBI single to right in the 1st to open the scoring. Tampa Bay was turning in sparkling play after sparkling play on defense behind Boscan. Danny Santana finally broke up the no-hit bid with a 2-out double down the right field line in the 7th. With the way we were hitting, Dickerson’s 1-out, 2-run homer in the 8th put the game away. Santana’s hit was the only hit we got against 3 Tampa Bay pitchers.


August 26, 2017

• Abraham Almonte (Seattle) suffered a setback in his recovery from an intercostal strain that will keep him out an additional 1-2 weeks.

Minnesota 4 at Tampa Bay 3

WP: Chris Heston (13-5), LP: Evan Marshall (5-9), SV: Glen Perkins (32)
HR: MN-Eddie Rosario (6),Kennys Vargas (17), TB-None

Rosario pulled the 3rd pitch of the game 346 feet down the right field line for a leadoff homer to open the scoring. Daniel Robertson laced a 1-out RBI double in the 3rd to tie the game. Vargas put us back in front with a 2-out solo homer in the 5th. Marcell Ozuna laced a RBI double in the 6th to tie the game again. Later in the inning, Jose Bautista blooped a RBI double to left to put Tampa Bay in front. Chris Herrmann put us back in front with a 2-out, 2-run double in the 8th against an exhausted Tampa Bay bullpen.

• The victory moved Chris Heston into the outright AL lead in wins.


August 27, 2017

• Yasiel Puig (Los Angeles Dodgers) is out 3-4 months with a ruptured finger tendon. He went .290 on the season with 15 HR and 65 RBI, good for a 4.5 WAR.

Minnesota 2 at Tampa Bay 11

WP: Nate Karns (7-13), LP: Jason Wheeler (12-3)
HR: MN-None, TB-Kevin Kiermaier (10), Neil Walker (14)

Andy Dirks lined a soft RBI single to right in the 2nd to open the scoring. Adam Walker was injured (shoulder soreness, day-to-day 1 week) trying to throw out Evan Longoria at 3rd on a ground ball single by Walker in the 3rd. Jorge Cantu and Kiermaier followed it up by lining a RBI singles to put Tampa Bay in front. By the time Wheeler got out of the inning he’d given up 2 more runs putting us behind 1-4. The game got completely out of hand after that. About the only thing we did right was enact some old fashioned justice for violating the unwritten rules of baseball when Daniel Robertson ran with a big lead. Luke Bard put one in his ribs the next time he came to the plate, and Robertson decided to express his displeasure by paying Bard a visit on the mound. Marcell Ozuna then committed the same violation and I brought in Phil Coke specifically to dish out the same penalty. Ozuna laughed at him and pointed to the scoreboard before taking his base.

• Luke Bard and Daniel Robertson were both suspended 10 games for their parts in the brawl during today’s game.
• Felix Hernandez (Seattle) threw a 2-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers.


August 28, 2017

• Adam Eaton (Toronto) suffered a setback in his recovery from a separated shoulder that will keep him out an additional 3 weeks.
• We’re 10th in the latest power rankings.

Toronto 1 at Minnesota 2

WP: Jose Berrios (7-9), LP: Marcus Stroman (10-11), SV: Glen Perkins (33)
HR: Tor-Rowdy Tellez (27), MN-None

Both starters were dominant early in the 1st meeting between these teams this season. The Blue Jays didn’t get a base runner until Devon Travis grounded a 1-out single up the middle in the 4th. The 1st run of the game came on a 2-out infield hit by Danny Santana in the bottom of the inning. Tellez responded with a leadoff homer in the 5th to tie the game. Brian Dozier promptly grounded a 1-out RBI single through the 5.5 hole in the bottom of the inning to put us back on top. Jose Berrios pitched himself into a jam, loading the bases with 1 out in the 6th, but struck out Tellez and coaxed an infield pop up from Josh Donaldson to escape with the lead. My bullpen came through to secure the win, only having to deal with a minor threat.

• Sonny Gray (Oakland) threw a 5-hitter against the Los Angeles Angels. It was Gray’s 2nd shutout of the season.


August 29, 2017

• Anthony Gose (St. Louis) is out 6-7 weeks due to a fractured thumb.
• Devin Mesoraco (Cincinnati) suffered shoulder soreness after playing golf and is out 1-2 weeks.

Toronto 3 at Minnesota 5

WP: Phil Hughes (6-5), LP: Brandon Beachy (11-4), SV: Glen Perkins (34)
HR: Tor-Rowdy Tellez (28), MN-Eddie Rosario (7)

Tellez got some help from the wind hitting a 2-out, 2-run homer in the 1st. Kenny Vargas ripped a RBI double in the bottom of the inning to get us on the board. After Adam Walker struck out, Aaron Hicks laced a 2-run double to put us in front. Rosario got some help of his own from the wind to hit a 2-out solo homer in the 2nd to make it 4-2. Phil Hughes settled down after the 1st inning, setting down 13 straight Toronto hitters. Vargas blooped a RBI double down the right field line in the 5th to provide further insurance. Jose Reyes lined a RBI double in the 7th to cut the lead to 5-3.


August 30, 2017

• Kris Bryant (Chicago Cubs) is out 2 weeks with a mild shoulder strain.
• Texas trades LF Roderick Shoulders to Tampa Bay for RHP SP Jamie Schultz and RF Kep Brown (2015 2nd Round pick).
• Tampa Bay deals 1B Alex A. Rodriguez to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for RHP SP Sam Dyson.

Toronto 5 at Minnesota 9

WP: Simon Castro (3-3), LP: John Axford (3-1)
HR: Tor-Rowdy Tellez (29), MN-Eddie Rosario (8), Chris Herrmann (8)

Rosario crushed a 1-out solo homer 424 feet to center in the 3rd to open the scoring. We ran ourselves out of another scoring threat in the 4th when Jon Garcia was thrown out at the plate to end the inning on a fly ball by Andy Dirks. Herrmann destroyed a 2-1 fastball left up 440 feet to center for a 2-run homer in the 5th to provide some insurance. J.B. Shuck got the Blue Jays on the board with a 1-out single to right in the 6th. 2 batters later, Tellez hit a 3-run homer to put Toronto in front. We responded by loading the bases with 1 out in the bottom of the inning for Herrmann, who struck out on 3 pitches. However Hector Gomez picked him up by lining a 2-run single to center to put us back in front 5-4. A throwing error by Jarrod Saltalamachia allowed us to score an insurance run. We then put the game away on a 1-out, 2-run single by Herrmann in the 8th.

• Chris Coghlan (New York Mets) was suspended for 2 games for arguing balls and strikes with the home plate umpire and for his comments after the game.
• Gio Gonzalez (Washington) threw a 5-hitter against San Diego for his 2nd shutout of the season.


August 31, 2017

Toronto at Minnesota—Rained Out


• Buster Posey called a players only meeting to clear the air in the locker room.


AL Hitter of the Month: Preston Tucker (Houston) .376 BA, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 15 R, .438 OBP
NL Hitter of the Month: Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado) .316 BA, 9 HR, 24 RBI, 19 R
AL Pitcher of the Month: Henry Owens (Boston) 4-1, 6 GS, 0.72 ERA, 45 K, 37.2 IP
NL Pitcher of the Month: Zack Greinke (Los Angeles Dodgers) 4-0, 43.1 IP, 40 K, 1.66 ERA, .167 Opp BA
AL Rookie of the Month: Trey Michalczerski (Chicago White Sox) .350 BA, 4 HR, 17 RBI
NL Rookie of the Month: Brian Schales (St. Louis) .280 BA, 1 HR, 14 RBI


72-55, .567, 4 GB (3rd AL Central), 5 GA (2nd AL Wild Card)

We righted the ship after a rough start to the month to finish August at 16-12. With Boston struggling, we’ve pulled away in the AL Wild Card race and look to be poised to make the playoffs for the 1st time under my leadership, a season after we were the worst team in MLB. If we don’t collapse down the stretch, I have to be the heavy favorite for AL Manager of the Year—especially after losing both Byron Buxton and Joe Mauer to season-ending injuries.
Being legitimately in the playoff race as the calendar turns to September this season means that updates will come on a weekly basis for the balance of the regular season.