As the game thread intro indicated today, the Minnesota Twins historically do not fare well against the previous year’s American League champions. Fortunately, they were able to flip the script this afternoon against veteran starter Max Scherzer and take the rubber match in Toronto against the Blue Jays.
Twins SP Taj Bradley was extremely shaky in the first inning—unable to find his command and leaving numerous pitches in the fat part of the plate. Fortunately, a successful challenge from his C Victor
Caratini and a DP turned behind him let him hop off the mound only surrendering one Blue Jays run (a Daulton Varsho single scoring Ernie Clement).
The offense put traffic on the base paths (Josh Bell BB, Matt Wallner HBP) immediately in T2, then Tristan Gray allowed them to jog home after crushing a 396-foot dong off Scherzer!! For some fun context, Gray was 12 years old when Scherzer was debuting in MLB.
Kody Clemens was also 12 years of age when Mad Max hit the scene—and he also homered off the old man in T3! Not content to only let the unexpected young guys contribute, a Wallner RBI single and a Caratini sac fly chased Scherzer to the showers before he could complete the third inning.
Max’s replacement Joe Mantiply fared similarly—plunking Gray and then seeing Brooks Lee crank a 2-run double down the LF line. Add all this up and the visitors finished T3 up 8-1 over the defending champs!
Bradley wasn’t sharp this afternoon—not locating his breaking pitches anywhere near the strike zone. But staked to the large early lead, he generated enough swings and misses (7 K) to toss five innings of one-run ball.
A great moment in B6: with his parents cheering (and crying) from the Rogers Centre seats, Andrew Morris made his Twins debut. He’d cover three innings and allow one run.
Justin Topa would close it out for Minnesota.
Your Final: Minnesota Twins 8, Toronto Blue Jays 2
After sweeping the Detroit Tigers at Target Field earlier in the week, the Twins take two-of-three from the Blue Jays and are a Cleveland Guardians loss away from an early share of first place in the AL Central!
Zach’s Zealot
- Of all the folks I would have never expected to do the infamous Morgan Wallen concert walk-out (he played U.S. Bank Stadium this weekend), Joe Mauer topped that list (hahaha).
Zach’s Zombie
- James Outman: 0-4, 2 K, yet to collect a hit on the ‘26 season
Egg-cellent Elocution
- Brandon Brooks branding this contest the Max Scherzer Game
Who’s Got Next:
- Right back home—through customs—to host a three-game series (Mon. night, Tues. night, Wed. afternoon) with the Boston
BeaneatersRed Sox.
