MINNESOTA SPORTS FAN DAILY: Saturday, September 23, 2017

MSF Daily: 9/23/17

Twins WIN @ Tigers; Surging to Playoffs:

Kyle Gibson was bad in his last outing, giving up 5 runs in just 3 innings. But, he got the start tonight and he was back on the money. He has been a different guy since August started. He has started 9 games in that span, going into Friday’s game. If you exclude his last poor start, he has a 2.70 ERA in those two months. He has collected 39 K’s while walking just 8.

Kyle was good again Friday, giving up just 3 runs on 5 hits with 6 K’s. He was able to stretch it out through 7 innings which could be crucial going forward. With every game becoming more and more important, a rested bullpen can be a HUGE asset. The Twins will need to go to the bullpen without hesitation, even early in a game. Molitor did just that in a win Thursday. Adalberto Mejia had made it through 4 innings, giving up just 1 run. But with a man on and Cabrera coming to the plate, Molitor decided to yank Mejia early. It was the right move. It helps when your offense gets you 12 runs later in the game…. but my point still stands. A good Kyle Gibson will be an asset for the Twins in this stretch.

Detroit started the scoring, in this game, with a solo homer in the 2nd. But that didn’t last very long. In the top of the 3rd inning, Max Kepler came to the plate and got the run back in one swing.

The Tigers would come back and get another one in the bottom of the 3rd.

End of 3 Innings: 2-1 Tigers Lead

But Byron Buxton would grab two RBI’s in the 4th inning, with a double, and Max Kepler would grab one himself with a base hit and the Twins had control. Buxton was 3-4 on the night. Escobar would score Dozier with a single in the 5th and Grossman would add another with a double in the 6th. The Twins were in control.

Kinsler would hit a homer of his own off Gibson in the 6th to grab one run back.

End of 6 Innings: 6-3 Twins LEAD

Both bullpens would settle in from there and the game cruised by. Dozier did sneak in another home run of his own in the top of the 9th, his 32nd of the season.

FINAL: Twins WIN 7-3 

It’s another big win for the Twins. We will wait and watch the Angels now and I will likely update this in the morning. But, for now, the Twins sit 3 games ahead of the Angels and Rangers for the 2nd Wildcard spot. The Twins now only have 8 games remaining. They will stay in Detroit for 2 more. It would be huge to get them both. They go to Cleveland for 3 games after this series. Wins will be hard to come by there.

Saturday Game Info: Comerica Park, Detroit – 5:10 PM – FSN

Matchup: Ervin Santana (15-8, 3.34 ERA) vs Matthew Boyd (6-10, 5.33 ERA)


Sam Bradford OUT Sunday vs Bucs:

The bad news we were all dreading came through Friday afternoon. Sam Bradford won’t be on the U.S. Bank Stadium turf on Sunday.

It was unwanted news but not unexpected news. Twitter is really panicking about Sam’s return. Going to see Dr. James Andrews is almost never a positive thing.

So now we wait for the latest on Bradford but things certainly don’t look good. Teddy can come off the PUP List as early as week 6 but will he be ready by then? If so, how will he look after so much time off? We may find out soon… Mike Zimmer was upset about getting all the questions a coach should expect at this point…


Timberwolves Photo-Shoot with New Uniforms:

Media Day was today for the Minnesota Timberwolves and we got a good look at the new uniforms.

Photos from: Minnesota Timberwolves (Getty Images), @RandBall, @Timberwolves, @Timberwolves


Just Sign the Paper Andrew:

Andrew Wiggins has now met with Glen Taylor and he has a new agent. He has a piece of important paper in front of him that is worth $148 Million . Yet he seems to be taking his sweet old-time on signing it. That piece of paper would keep him in Minnesota for the next 6 seasons. Given our past, Minnesotans get nervous about things like this. Here is his presser and some quotes I found interesting.

“Just want to make sure, take my time — there’s no rush,”

“That’s what hard work does,” Wiggins said. “I’ve been working my whole life for this contract.”

“I’ve missed one game in three years. I’m not too worried about getting injured.”


Zach Parise Back on the Ice:

Parise tweaked his back this offseason and hasn’t practiced with the team yet since they have come together before starting the season. He was back on the ice and practicing today. He isn’t ready for gameplay yet and he doesn’t seem too close. Or maybe he is? I don’t know…

“I’m hoping to get in some good practices up until when I am ready and go from there. Ideally, I’d love to be with the team full time and playing in the games, but that’s just not the case right now.  At this time of the season, you want to go in feeling good. You want to go in without nursing something or at 80 percent. You want to go in and not have that stuff be on the top of your mind. Just go in, relax and play. And that’s what I’m shooting toward.’’

MSF Daily by Eric Strack @RealMNSportsFan

Mentioned in this article:

More About: