You can read the dek, can’t you? If you can’t, well, an unfortunate series of events led to the Twins falling behind, and they just didn’t get the hits you’d hope for later. Inning-by-inning notes:
1: A scoreless first inning, but 24 pitches for Zebulon Matthews. He averages just a tick above six innings pitched per start, and the Twins have the highest bullpen ERA in baseball, so we’ll be watching this. Not closely or anything, we have bigger worries in life, just kinda watching it. Yes I am using
the royal “we.” I’m the king of you.
Trevor Larnach with a leadoff double. In his first AB for the Twins since May 18th, Ryan Jeffers hits it to RF and Larnach moves up; another flyout by Kody Clemens scores Trevor. Nice small ball, kinda sorta. Josh Bell doubles and nothing comes of it except he gets to adopt a puppy after the game, doubles get you that. Twins 1-0
2: Now 42 for Zebby. Per Wiki, Matthews attended Smoky Mountain high school, so named because of the number of students who hotbox in the school’s parking lot.
Nothing going for the Twins either. I guess a bunch of the Twins HOFers are at the ballpark tonight, so there must be a ceremony of some sort this weekend. Get to a game if you can and bring a Sharpie, and see which intimate body part you can get Kent Hrbek to sign.
3: A two-out, four-pitch walk to the Angels’ fastest runner, Zach Neto. Maybe pitchers do this for a challenge, either that or it’s a prop bet. Neto doesn’t go anywhere, and his name makes me think of actor Jared Leto. Did you know that Jared Leto has a band, 30 Seconds to Mars, which is a terrible band name but they’ve sold 15 million albums? I didn’t know, either. See the things we learn together?
Luke Keaschall is HBP, and Larnach GIDPs. Ryan Jeffers BB. Clemens F7. I Zzz.
4: Funtimes with Zebby. A leadoff homer, a double, a runner advancing to third on a groundout, and a balk to score the runner. Since the balk rule is intended to prevent pitchers from using fakeouts to catch runners off base, and almost nobody steals home anymore, should a lone runner on third get to advance because of a balk? Seems odd. Anways, we losing now.
Bert Blylevn was scheduled to appear on the radio in the third inning, and finally shows up here with two outs, and sounds like his HOF dinner consisted of Turkey (Wild) with all the stuffing (ice cubes). Halos 2-1
5: A leadoff single for Wayne Meckler, and a bunt played badly by Royce Lewis, everybody’s safe. A duck fart to right loads ‘em up with no outs. I think Bert is jinxing Zebby. Nolan Schanuel singles, bases still loaded, nobody still out. Flyout to right RBI; then a 1-4-3. This could have been much worse; Bert could have jinxed it more by being even drunker (allegedly).
Tristan Grey with the leadoff single, but nothing comes of it. Grayson Rodriguez came into this game with an ERA of 8.06 and the Twins are making it a better ERA. I need more coffee. Angels Angels of Anaheim 4-1
6: Zebby still in there at 84 pitches; 10 pitches later, there’s a leadoff walk. Adell hits into the DP, then Oswald Peraza singles. Then Wade Meckler singled to right, sending Peraza to third; Meckler saw that second was uncovered and tried for two. The Twins nailed him. So Zebby escaped unharmed, wild!
Another double for Bell! He gets two puppies, or can trade those up for one iguana. A one-out infield hit by Lewis puts runners on the corners and chases starter Rodriguez. Samy Natera, one of their three good relievers, enters. RBI double by Brooks Lee! Austin Martin hits it deep enough to short to score the run. That’s all here, but at least the Twins didn’t waste their opportunities. Gene Autrys 4-3
7: Derek Shelton’s Magical Arm Barn brings in Andrew Morris; he gives up the leadoff single. Nothing else!
One-out Larnach facing a lefty takes a five-pitch walk. Radio says that one section has their shirts off and is chanting “let’s go, Trevor!” So that works. Ryan Jeffers doubles; RISP with one out. And… Clemens pops one straight up. Home run in a grain silo. Two outs. Bell hits it hard, but arcs it high, and that’s a flyout.
8: Morris gets a 1-2-3. All credit to the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, because I was outdoors at dusk during this half-inning and didn’t get bit once. Usually, if there’s five people outside at dusk and I’m among them, I’m the only one who gets gnawed. The beasties love my blood content. No comment why.
Sam Bachman pitching for Them. Lee takes the one-out walk, nothing else good happens.
9: Travis Adams pitching for Twins. When a fly ball is hit to Trevor Larnach, radio guy Kris Atteberry says “Travis is all over it.” Those “Tr” names can be confusing.
The Twins have two walk-offs this year, can they make it three? It’s Kirby Yates, their best reliever. With one out, Trevor/Travis hits a double into the gap. 3-2 groundout by Jeffers; that gives Clemens the chance to make up for his popup in the seventh. He smacks one over 1B Nolan Schanuel’s head… and Schanuel jumps. Twins lose.
Studs of the game: Bell, Larnach, Lee, two doubles apiece. Morris and Adams, 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 K. Duds: Clemens, I guess, even though ill-timed popups do happen (and often are pitches a guy just missed). So scratch that; Duds go to Bert for Boozed Jinking (allegedly), and the lone-guy-on-third Balk Rule.
COTG to Kirilofffan19 for explaining to us where The Fish Stripes (a former SB wesite) went and Nagurski for having a day.
Thanks to everybody who joined in! I know I’ve been kinda absent from GTs these last two years; it’s not because I don’t enjoy you folks, I just write alot for a hobby site and I’m usually writing at night. I’m with ya in spirit.
Tomorrow’s game is at 2:10, and features Their Ryan (Johnson) versus Our Ryan (Joseph Philip). Catch y’all next time!
