Oakland, Calif. — When the Twins and the Athletics met at Target Field earlier this month, scoring runs was tough and Rocco Baldelli, watching from afar while dealing with COVID-19 in his Baltimore hotel room, was tense. From miles and miles away.
The Twins and the Athletics became embroiled in another close game on Monday. In this one, the Twins used strong performances from their pitching staff and some short-balls to knock out the Athletics for the fourth time this season, the game in a 3–1 win over the A at Oakland Coliseum.
Rookie Royce Lewis, whose time in the Majors appears to be coming to an end soon, Carlos Correa (finger) as he nears a return from the injured list, made the most of his first opportunity, and did it again on Monday, with team two. scored runs. three runs.
Lewis led in the third inning with a double from the left and Jorge Polanco came around to score on a single. The 22-year-old reached again after two innings, to walk for the lead of fifth.
And then, some old school ball.
Nick Gordon delivered a perfect bunt moving Lewis into scoring position, and Byron Buxton shot a single to the left as the former first-round trio worked together to build what would become a game-winning run.
The call for the bunt, Baldelli said, came from the dugout.
“I just want to win the ballgame. Our players just want to win the ballgame and although we can do that, it’s going to be good for us,” Baldelli said. “To see something of a different kind might give everyone a try. fire for a second.”
For good measure, Sanchez added a little breathing room in the sixth inning, a home run out to centre, the second in his last four games. Sanchez ended the day with a pair of extra-base hits – that also doubled – and also garnered some kudos from his starter Chris Archer, for the game he called behind the plate.
Archer threw four innings in an effort of 62 pitches and conceded just one run in a pair of hits. After being taxed in the first innings, Archer worked a nine-pitch second and then cruised through the third as well, before an RBI allowed Elvis Andrus to double in the fourth inning, which tied the game at the time. gave.
“I give what they ask me to give,” Archer said of the small start. “We got the win. Our bullpen was set, so I’m ready to do whatever they tell me to do.”
Behind Archer, the bullpen was set on course.
Rookie Yennier Canoe, working his second game of his career, threw a pair of unscored frames and finished with the win. His teammates made sure to celebrate the achievement by sipping him in beer at the clubhouse postgame.
“It was unexpected,” Cano said. “One of the best things to happen in my life as a baseball player. I got my first beer shower and it was fun and I appreciate their support.”
While Canoe walked away with the win, it was possible thanks to the efforts of Griffin Jacques (two innings) and Tyler Duffy behind him, both of whom defended a two-run advantage with the Twins (21–15).
Having pitched in Emilio Pagan’s last three games and the Twins wanting to avoid using Zoan Duran for the third time in four days, Duffy scored a save against the A on Monday (15-23), his first appearance in the ninth inning. gave. From 9 April.
And he responded to the situation, collecting just a fifth to save his career.
“We played a good ballgame all around. We played quite strongly defensively,” Baldelli said. “We pitched very well. I was very pleased with what we saw. We got some runs done. Gary (Sanchez) hits one on the moon. It was a good day.”
