MINNESOTA SPORTS FAN DAILY: Friday, August 18, 2017

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MSF Daily: 8/18/17

 

Twins split Thursday’s double-header vs. Cleveland:

Game 1

Gibson struggled right out of the gate, in game 1. He gave up 2 runs in the first, off a Bruce hit. Then, he surrendered another in the 2nd off of a Kipnis hit.

Gibson was pulled after 90-some pitches in just 4 innings. To give him a little credit though, he threw that many pitches and only gave up 3 runs.

The Twins were still in it after 7 innings. Buxton went yard in the 3rd to make it 3-1 and then Polanco tripled Buxton home, after he walked, to make it 3-2 heading to the 8th.

Oh also, they left about 371 runners on base. They left the bases loaded (the were loaded with nobody out), without getting a run, in the 1st. That was tough after Gibson gave up 2 in the first half of that inning. Polanco was left on 3rd in the 7th with a chance to tie.

The Twins Bullpen would give up 6 more runs between the 8th and 9th. The final would be 9-3. Escobar doubled home Rosario in the 8th. It was already over at that point.

Glen Perkins Returns:

We got to see Glen Perkins back on the bump in the first game of Thursday’s double-header. It wasn’t pretty. He lasted 1/3 of an inning, giving up 2 runs, on 2 hits with a BB and a HBP…

Game 2

Aaron Slegers made his MLB debut on Thursday night for the back-half of the double-header. FINALLY the Twins brought a guy up who looked like he can pitch. Slegers gave up just 2 hits and 2 runs, in 6.1 innings.

I thought Molitor pulled him too early. Hildenberger gave up an RBI triple right after, that tied the game. Hildenberger didn’t give up another run, however.

Leading up to that moment, the Twins got their first 2 runs off of an Escobar single in the 3rd and an Adrianza SAC Fly in the 4th.

After the Indians tied the game in the 7th, Kepler came to the plate in the bottom of the same inning:

That made it 3-2. In the bottom of the 8th, Escobar added another insurance run to make it 4-2. That is where the game would end.

It was big for the Twins to take the last game. It leaves them just 1 game out of the Wild Card race. Arizona comes to town Friday. After that, the competition falls off.

I wrote about that a few days ago. Some things have changed but the idea is the same:

 

Vikings @ Seahawks in Preseason Game 2 Friday:

The Vikings travel to Seattle on Friday and the main story will probably be Blair Walsh. Now playing for Seattle, the team he infamously missed wide left from 27 yards against, to crush hopes and dreams all over the state of Minnesota.

Most of the starters should get about a quarter before being replaced. All eyes will be on the offensive line again.

Here is more from the StarTribune’ Ben Goessling:

Croft/Rhoda to split time vs. Buffalo in Gopher Football opener:

We have all been waiting, as PJ Fleck has said it was important for the Gophers’ Football Team to have chosen their starting QB ASAP. However, apparently it was more important to make a decision on something than it was to really choose one or the other.

Fleck came out today and said that Conor Rhoda and Demry Croft will both see the field for an extensive look in the opener, on August 31, vs Buffalo at TCF Bank Stadium.

New Guy, Crawford, tells Shabazz to stay with Timberwolves:

And we officially all love Jamal Crawford. Not only did he choose to sign with the Timberwolves over others, but he is now recruiting Shabazz Muhammad to stay in Minnesota and take the veteran’s minimum contract.

But what got even more attention than Crawford’s tweet? Shabazz’ response:

I would love to have Shabazz back in Minnesota.  It is a little crazy to think he might sign at the minimum.

MSF Daily by Eric Strack @RealMNSportsFan

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