Last night's game ... whew ... it's over, we won. Had a lot of very good reviewed calls help us on our way. The game recap has it all so no need to rehash here, other than to say ...

 

The Joy of Victory ...

 

 

 

And the Agony of Defeat ... 

 

 

 

And the 'I think I can' will of determination (look at the eyes) ... 

 

 

Onto today's game. I like the match up ... Berrios vs Anderson. Berrios had a bit of a rough outing last time up, but he will give us his best. Coming off the news that he will go to the All-Star game in place of the IL'd Odorizzi, I hope he's pumped up to shine. And Anderson ... a rookie ... who has not yet faced the Twins. I hope that last night's game didn't take too much out of the Twins, but whatever it took out of us, it took out of them. Hoping that we can muster more coming off a victory than they can muster coming off a defeat.

 

Lineups:

 

TWINS

 

1. Max Kepler (L) RF
2. Jorge Polanco (S) SS
3. Nelson Cruz (R ) DH
4. Luis Arraez (L) LF
5. Miguel Sano (R ) 3B
6. Ehire Adrianza (S) 1B
7. Jonathan Schoop (R ) 2B
8. Jason Castro (L) C
9. Byron Buxton (R ) CF

 

José Berríos (R ) P

 

A's

 

1. Marcus Semien (R ) SS
2. Matt Chapman (R ) 3B
3. Matt Olson (L) 1B
4. Khris Davis (R ) DH
5. Mark Canha (R ) RF
6. Ramon Laureano (R ) CF
7. Robbie Grossman (S) LF
8. Chris Herrmann (L) C
9. Jurickson Profar (S) 2B

 

Tanner Anderson (R ) P

 

Weather in Oakland: A nice day for a game.

 

 

 

And I will leave you with this, America the Beautiful. May we work for and honor whatever that means to each of us. Happy 4th, everyone! Be safe, wear sunscreen, designate a driver, enjoy your picnics, BBQs, and the day with your friends and families.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlHMQEegpFs

 

 

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

-Emma Lazarus, The New Colossus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJJhKEzgEGQ

A 6.6 magnitude earthquake occurred 7.46mi SW of Searles Valley, CA.

 

Yikes!

Patriotism swells in the heart of the american bear.

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

 

Repeating this because I think it's worth repeating.

Adrianza at 1B? Come on... we need Garver in this lineup, and he can play 1B!

 

Adrianza at 1B? Come on... we need Garver in this lineup, and he can play 1B!

After an extra innings game where he was catcher for the whole game? Uh, no, I agree with the decision to not play him.

 

That said ... Adrianza at 1B? 

 

I guess the manager felt Cron needed a day off?

 

It is what it is.

 

But I do think not playing Garver is good. He's available to pinch hit if need be.

Cron has been struggling for a while. I do agree that he could use a day off.

 

Garver has drawn the short straw (started the extra-inning games and the one with a three-hour rain delay) and he hasn't been as productive lately. Gonzalez might have been the option, but he is also banged up. Adrianza has started at least once prior at first.

 

A 6.6 magnitude earthquake occurred 7.46mi SW of Searles Valley, CA.

Yikes!

GO Twins  7-2 today berrios pitches 7+

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7JBauUNDAU

ARRAEZ!!!!!!

Good eye Sano!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ehire!!!

 

Adrianza at 1B? Come on... we need Garver in this lineup, and he can play 1B!

 

He has been playing everybody all year and providing days off for everybody all year. 

 

July 4th seems like the right time to be surprised by it. Considering it's a holiday after all. 

Way to go Adrianza!!!!! We'll take it!!!!!

Vet players like Adrianza know how to make contact with the ball and catcher's glove at the same time. 

 

As we have seen... it's a handy skill. 

Replays seem to be inconclusive on that catcher's interference call.  Adri fouled it and the ball hit the tip of the glove and I wonder if that's what the umpire heard rather than the bat hitting the glove.  I'll take the run though.

 

And in a mild surprise, Schoop fails to deliver with the bases loaded again.

Schoop put a good swing on it. Unfortunate no hit because he's been big time struggling 

Dick needs to calm down a bit. Based on his call, Schoop hit that one out of the stadium.

Im kinda over Schoop....

 

Replays seem to be inconclusive on that catcher's interference call.  Adri fouled it and the ball hit the tip of the glove and I wonder if that's what the umpire heard rather than the bat hitting the glove.  I'll take the run though.

 

And in a mild surprise, Schoop fails to deliver with the bases loaded again.

 

Can't really fault Schoop there. He put a great swing on it. 

We all know Schoop never comes up with anything whenever it matters.

Unfortunately for Schoop, Oakland has one of the few center fielders capable of tracking that ball down.

 

Dick needs to calm down a bit. Based on his call, Schoop hit that one out of the stadium.

I guess Dick was so excited to see Schoop finally hit one out of IF with the bases loaded.

Kepler needs to have more patience. Lefties are hitting over .300 against this guy and Kepler's at bats have looked kinda pathetic.

And Polanco's at bats have looked pathetic too...

 

And Polanco's at bats have looked pathetic too...

Polanco at least battled. That was ball 4 outside. He should not swing at it.

Remember when someone thought it was a good idea to put Sano in right field?