Twins 6, Guardians 5: Roger has to be so proud

Kody Clemens walks it off in the bottom of 9 with an RBI double

Wow. Wow. Wow.

I’m sitting here at work jumping up and down explaining to my coworkers that Kody Clemens just walked off the game in the bottom of the 9th with two outs, hitting home Ryan Fitzgerald after Jonah Bride had singled up the middle. This all happening after the Twins blew it in the top of the inning.

To this they respond…who? huh?

It’s not because these players are ‘nobodies.’ It’s because they are just not your average big-name Twins of course. This team has been, I don’t want to say scraping by, but really this team has been grinding with a hodgepodge of players, not totally known by Twins fans. And this group is winning games.

Kody Clemens: AKA Roger Clemens son, was acquired by the Twins from the Phillies in exchange for cash considerations after Luke Keaschall went down. Clemens had been DFA’d by Philadelphia on April 23.

Jonah Bride: AKA rec specs, was acquired by the Twins when Matt Wallner went down. Bride was released by the Marlins on April 15. The Twins claimed him again in exchange for cash considerations.

Ryan Fitzgerald: AKA success story, was called up from the minors when Carlos Correa was put on the IL after colliding with Buxton in the outfield. Fitzgerald turns 31 in June and has been grinding through independent ball and the minors for the past nine years after going undrafted in 2016. He was promoted to the bigs on May 16.

Chalk up another win. This marks the 10th consecutive win at Target Field for the Twins, something the team has never done. The Twins are now 14-3 in May. What a month.

The first game of this Wednesday ‘doubleheader’ was a makeup from Monday. The game started in the 4th with the Twins leading 2-1. Ober was the SP, Ryan took over Wednesday. It’s been a rainy, sloppy mess the past few days. Big shoutout to the grounds crew, putting in the long hours to make this game possible.

Let’s take you through what happened today…

Carlos Santana started things off early on Wednesday, hitting his fifth home run of the season in his former ballpark. Tie ballgame.

To the bottom of the inning, the Twins didn’t take long to take care of business. Kody Clemens tripled on a line drive to left, Trevor Larnach scored. Twins up 3-2.

Shortly after, Harrison Bader with the RBI sac fly to right, Clemens crosses home. Twins up 4-2.

Bader up again in the 8th, another RBI, this time on a single to left field. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. crosses home. 5-2 good guys.

But then.. the wheels fall off a bit. Joe Ryan gets pulled leaving two on the bases. The Twins bring in Duran and Nolan Jones singles to left, closing the gap. 5-3 Twins still.

But then… two outs and Bo Naylor doubles in two runs. 5-5 score. Blown save for Duran.

Bottom of the inning we go. Have no fear, as we spoiled above, Kody Clemens is here. Clemens lands a walk-off RBI double for the Twins to win the first of two at Target Field Wednesday.

Jhoan Duran got the blown save and the win.

Whatever works. The Twins are now 27-21. It almost brings a tear to my eye. Right now they sit 4.5 back from the Tigers in the AL Central.

Game two starts soon.

GO TWINS!!!!