In a series that previously featured two walk-off wins from the wannabe-Los Angeles Angels, this Sunday gave them the opportunity to continue staving off 100 losses. Instead, Twins OF Alan Roden said “not today, Anaheim!” and almost single-handedly powered the MIN offense to a big victory and drove LAA ever closer to that first triple-digit loss column in franchise history!
The Twins scored early: RBI knocks from Josh Bell & Roden in T3 off Angels SP Ryan “Not the Star Wars director” Johnson. 2-0
MIN.
The Twins scored in the middle: In T5, Bell again knocked in a safety with a single. 3-0 MIN
In T7, Ben Ross singled home “Rally” Emma(nuel) Rodriguez—then himself came around to score on a stolen base attempt and error by LAA C Ballesteros! 5-0 MIN.
The Twins scored late: With Brooks Lee & Bell clogging the base paths, Roden let them trot home on a 378-foot wall-clearer to RF!! 8-0 MIN.
Meanwhile, MN pitching was piling up goose eggs: Six 1-hit, 0 ER innings (3 BB, 8 K) from SP Dean Kremer followed by a three-inning, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 K save from Bailey Ober. Add another unlikely contributor to the SV column in 2026!
Your final: Minnesota Twins 8, Los Angeles Angels 0.
With most of the Minnesota sporting focus (mine included, I’ll admit) on a 2-0 Vikings start with victories over the Packers (last Sun) and Bears (today) to open ‘26, the hardball boys at least contributed some excitement of their own this late-afternoon in Hollywoodland.
Zach’s Zealot(s)
- Roden: 3-4, 4 RBI, HR
- Bell: 3-5, 2 RBI
- Kremer: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER
- Ober: 3-inning save!
Zach’s Zombie
- This languid run of late-night, weird-timing West Coat baseball. Would probably be fun if a pennant race were the prize. Alas—without meaning it feels like the ultimate slog (even if this was a nice win!).
Egg-cellent Elocution
- Matt Monitto extolling the virtues of our resident Roden(t)!
Who’s Got Next
- More Twinkie Town After Dark (TM) as Minnesota stays on the West Coast for three games with the San Francisco Giants (Mon. late-night, Tues. late-night, Wed. late-afternoon).
