The brooms are out and Target Field is clean as a whistle – which I always thought was a weird saying because when I think of a say, basketball ref’s whistle, I think it would be dirty. But, with my career I always want to make sure what I’m saying makes sense and what it derives from. This saying ‘clean as a whistle’ has no clear origin. There are many theories. The phrase first appeared in print in the early 18th century, and many say it likely refers to the clear, pure sound of a whistle when free
of debris. I personally suspect the the phrase started as “clear as a whistle” to mean something was unambiguous or definitely heard, and it just changed over time.
Either way, the Twins got swept. And after that series I need something to wet my whistle.
Despite the impeccable weather at the ballpark, the Minnesota Twins could not capitalize on this glorious weather that opened the Minnesota State Fair. In fact by the second inning, the A’s had already scored six runs.
Twins starter José Ureña (0–1) ran into trouble in the second after two quick outs. A hit-by-pitch and a pair of basehits loaded the bases for Lawrence Butler, who cleared them with a double to left. Oakland added three more runs in the frame, building a 6–0 lead the Twins couldn’t recover from. The Twins couldn’t even get halfway there.
Minnesota loaded the bases in the fourth with no outs. Two balls hit in the infield, including an RBI single by James Outman and a run-scoring groundout by Luke Keaschall would get Minnesota on the board. Lewis later added an RBI double in the ninth to cap the Twins’ scoring.
Ureña lasted five innings, allowing six runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out three.
Jack Perkins (3–2) held the Twins to three hits and two runs across five innings, and relievers Ben Bowden and Osvaldo Bido combined to limit further damage. Bido earned his first career save with three innings of work.
Offensively, Lewis and Larnach each doubled for Minnesota, who were held to five hits on the day. The Twins have now dropped six of their last seven games and sit just behind the Athletics in the win column after the loss.
Oakland’s sweep was their first in Minnesota since 2014.
On the bright side, there is some good action happening Thursday night at CHS Field.
Go Twins!
