Finishing the job this time!
Earlier this week, the Minnesota Twins had a chance to sweep the Chicago White Sox and let it slip away through Thursday’s rain. Today, the Twins had a similar sweeping scenario against the souring Los Angeles Angels—and secured it!
In the early goings of this one, Twins SP Joe Ryan was absolutely dominant. He set the first three Halos down on pop-ups, struck out the middle three, and continued his perfection of the first trip through the order.
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Meanwhile, Edouard Julien led off the Minnesota first inning with a walk, was quickly moved to third by a Carlos Correa double, and touched the irregular pentagon thanks to Ty France’s sacrifice fly.
Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images
Ryan continued his mound mastery through the middle frames, goose-egging the Angels through six.
Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images
Alas, a lineup featuring Mickey Gasper as the DH batting fifth—the horror!—perhaps unsurprisingly couldn’t change the score from a single vertical line in that same period.
Well, until the bottom of the 6th—when the Angels starting Angel-ing. Two consecutive infield errors put Correa & Trevor Larnach on the base paths, then two consecutive doubles from France & Ryan Jeffers created so much action that Twins runners were nearly passing themselves on the dirt! When the dust settled: 4-0 Twins!
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Thanks in part to a Buxton-like sprawling catch from Harrison Bader, Ryan was able to complete the 7th unscathed and walk off the bump to a Twins Territory standing ovation!
Larnach lubricated the lead to 5-0 in the 7th with an RBI single, which was more than enough for Justin Topa to finish off with two scoreless innings.
Your Final: Minnesota Twins 5, Los Angeles Angels 0
Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images
A 5-1 homestand for the Twins! But no rest for the wicked, as it were: Without an off day buffer, Monday through Thursday brings a big 4-game series @ the Cleveland Guardians.
Studs
- The Joe Ryan Experience (TM): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 K
- Correa: 3-4
- France: 2 RBI
- Jeffers: 2 RBI
- Bader: Channeling his inner Buxton
Duds
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Comment of the Game
- Nagurskiinsandpoint presaging Ryan’s gem. Baby powder groin splashes for all!