Article: MIN 15, TEX 6: Offense Erupts and Perez Faces Former Team

[AJ Condon]

The Minnesota Twins’ offense got off to a great start in their final series before the All-Star break by exploding for 13 extra base hits and 15 runs. Martin Perez shined in his first six innings, but struggled finishing out his start, and Polanco and Schoop made some highlight plays in the field amidst an offensive explosion.Box Score

Starter: 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 62.8% strikes (59 of 94 pitches)

Bullpen: 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

 

Home Runs: Arraez (2), Polanco (12), Schoop (14), Garver (13)

Multi-Hit Games: Kepler (2-4, BB), Polanco (2-5, HR), Garver (2-4, 2B, HR, BB), Gonzalez (3-4, 2 2B, HR), C.J. Cron (2-5, 2 2B), Arraez (2-5, HR), Schoop (3-5, 2B, HR), Buxton (2-5, 2 2B)

 

Top 3 WPA: Perez .125, Arraez .091, Buxton .081

 

 

Twins’ Offense Erupts

After a quick first inning by Adrian Sampson that included two strikeouts, the Twins batted around in the second with eight hits, six of them being extra-base hits to score six runs. Five of those runs were scored with two outs in the inning.

 

 

In the second inning there clearly wasn’t enough damage to Sampson, as the Rangers left him out there for the third and fourth. After getting five straight outs, Sampson gave up three straight hits, and another run to end his night after giving up seven runs on 11 hits over 3 1/3 innings. Schoop extended the Twins lead to nine on a two-run shot in the fifth to really put this game out of reach.

 

After a little comeback by the Rangers in the seventh, the offense felt the game getting a little too close for comfort and put up a three spot in response. Garver hit a solo shot for the team’s 166th home run of the season, extending their MLB-record of most home runs hit before the All-Star Break. Schoop's third extra-base hit of the night grabbed two more RBIs to get the lead back to seven.

 

The Twins’ offense combined for a season-high 20 hits, 15 runs, club-tying 13 extra base hits, four home runs, and every batter had at least one hit!

 

Perez Battles Old Team

Martin Perez got his first start tonight against his old team after spending his first seven seasons with the Rangers. This was definitely a game Perez wanted to start, seeing some familiar faces and trying to gain bragging rights against some of his old buddies.

 

Perez had all the fun in his first six innings but ran into trouble before exiting the game in the seventh. Perez gave up just four hits in those first six innings with the first three of them being weak singles with exit velocities of 69.8, 84.1, and 76.7, respectively.

 

The seventh inning is where Perez ran into trouble, and it started with a walk. A leadoff walk was exactly what got things started in his last start when he gave up two runs in the second inning to the Tampa Bay Rays.

 

Tonight, the leadoff walk was a little more detrimental, though the offense gave Perez room to work. Following the walk, Perez gave up three straight hits for two runs which ended his night. He was responsible for two more runs as Harper wasn’t able to get out of a second and third no-out jam.

 

Middle Infielders Shine

When talking about this team’s highlight-reel defense, it usually has to do with Buxton and making some ridiculous catch look easy. Tonight, it was the middle infielders who rose above the rest.

 

The first highlight-reel play was courtesy of Polanco, Schoop, and Cron’s first double play of the night. Choo grounded a ball towards the middle but Polanco grabbed it out of the air with his glove, didn’t even bother using his other hand, flipped it to Schoop who gunned it to Cron to end the inning.

 

Schoop tried to top Polanco’s acrobatic play the next inning when he made a running backhand stop and delivered a bullet to Cron for the third out. Just when the Rangers thought they had a threat, Polanco and Schoop combined with Cron again for an inning-ending double play.

 

Postgame With Baldelli

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Click here for a review of the number of pitches thrown by each member of the bullpen over the past five days.

 

Click here to view the article

[terrydactyls]

Yesterday was Friday, July 5, it was the 87th game of the year and the Twins hit 4 home runs.  The Twins are now 54%  of the way through the season.  Out of 59 years, the current team ranks 13th on the all-time list of Twins' home runs in one season and are on a pace to hit 307 home runs this season.

[Aerodeliria]

Yay! It's nice to not have to sweat out the game until the last out.

 

BTW, please don't send Arraez down and don't trade him...

[Rosterman]

How do you NOT schedule a full schudule of games with some teams having FRIDAY on a 4th of July weekend ark. Go figure. The one three-day weekend you are almsot assured of full houses (if playing well) and the chance to blast fireworks every nite in the sky (if not on he field).

[twinsfanstreif]

Yesterday was Friday, July 5, it was the 87th game of the year and the Twins hit 4 home runs.  The Twins are now 54%  of the way through the season.  Out of 59 years, the current team ranks 13th on the all-time list of Twins' home runs in one season and are on a pace to hit 307 home runs this season.

And yet none of our players were invited to the HR Derby?

[Darius]

The Twins surpassed 500 runs as a team last night. The Tigers have yet to score 300.

[MMMordabito]

And yet none of our players were invited to the HR Derby?

Another reason to break from baseball for four days

[Doomtints]

 

Out of 59 years, the current team ranks 13th on the all-time list of Twins' home runs in one season

 

The Twins are cheap have not historically been a power hitting team.

[terrydactyls]

At 165 homeruns, the Twins now hold the record for most homeruns before the All Star game and are only 103 homeruns short of the Yankees Major league single season record. Three more homeruns this weekend will vault them into the Twins single season top ten - at the All Star break!

[Squirrel]

And yet none of our players were invited to the HR Derby?

if you look at who is in the HR derby, I think those individual players, most of them, anyway, have more HRs than our top HR hitter. What we’ve accomplished with HRs has been an exceptional team effort. Besides, I don’t want any of our players jinxed or ruined for the rest of the season.

[terrydactyls]

The Twins are cheap have not historically been a power hitting team.

You must be too young to remember the many years of Killebrew, Allison, Mincher, Battey, Hall, Oliva in the lineup.

[Doomtints]

 

You must be too young to remember the many years of Killebrew, Allison, Mincher, Battey, Hall, Oliva in the lineup.

 

When that lineup worked it was paired with good pitching. When the Twins have been good, it's been the pitching. This isn't historically a power hitting club.

[terrydactyls]

When that lineup worked it was paired with good pitching. When the Twins have been good, it's been the pitching. This isn't historically a power hitting club.

That made no sense at all. Are you talking about power hitting teams, good pitching teams, overall team performance? Those are three separate topics. Your initial comment was that the Twins were not known historically as a power team and I pointed out that for many years, they were. What's pitching got to do with it?

Edited July 6, 2019 by terrydactyls

[Riverbrian]

 

The Twins are cheap have not historically been a power hitting team.

 

If serious... I disagree.

 

If not serious... I find the strike-through clever. 

[USAFChief]

You must be too young to remember the many years of Killebrew, Allison, Mincher, Battey, Hall, Oliva in the lineup.

He is correct, though, that in recent decades the Twins haven't had much power. They went for something like 15 years between 30 HR hitters, for example.

 

I also present, your honor, prosecution exhibit B...playoff DH Jason Tyner.

[mini_tb]

At 165 homeruns, the Twins now hold the record for most homeruns before the All Star game and are only 103 homeruns short of the Yankees Major league single season record. Three more homeruns this weekend will vault them into the Twins single season top ten - at the All Star break!

 

All this while having the 4th fewest strikeouts in baseball. This has been a special season.

[terrydactyls]

I just read this in MLB Rumors. The Red Sox are rumored to be actively pursuing another starting pitcher for the playoff run. The article said that after Mark Price, Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, and Eduardo Rodriguez, their starters drop off.

 

Anyone feeling sorry for them?

[mini_tb]

I'd gladly trade them Chase De Jong. I wouldn't even ask for much in return.

[SpicyGarvSauce]

 

I just read this in MLB Rumors. The Red Sox are rumored to be actively pursuing another starting pitcher for the playoff run. The article said that after Mark Price, Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, and Eduardo Rodriguez, their starters drop off.

Anyone feeling sorry for them?

 

This stuff, right here. I envy that the Red Sox are always seemingly looking to upgrade and improve - their goal is to win championships while sustaining a long term vision. Why can't the Twins do it the same way? They recognize their weakness, and they pursue options to improve that. It isn't a tough model to follow, really.

Edited July 6, 2019 by SpicyGarvSauce

[terrydactyls]

This stuff, right here. I envy that the Red Sox are always seemingly looking to upgrade and improve - their goal is to win championships while sustaining a long term vision. Why can't the Twins do it the same way? They recognize their weakness, and they pursue options to improve that. It isn't a tough model to follow, really.

And currently they have a depleted farm system, are only a few games over.500, and are 11 games out of first place.

[SpicyGarvSauce]

 

And currently they have a depleted farm system, are only a few games over.500, and are 11 games out of first place.

 

Sorry, but I would trade that for a World Series.

[USAFChief]

And currently they have a depleted farm system, are only a few games over.500, and are 11 games out of first place.

perhaps they can hock a couple WS trophies

[Squirrel]

 

And currently they have a depleted farm system, are only a few games over.500, and are 11 games out of first place.

What's the Red Sox mood among fans up there in Maine?

[MVP Nick Punto]

The Twins surpassed 500 runs as a team last night. The Tigers have yet to score 300.

This would suggest to me that the twins are a much better team than the tigers.

[terrydactyls]

What's the Red Sox mood among fans up there in Maine?

Mainers are more laid back than the fans 90 miles South. In Boston, they are firmly behind spending every penny of the owner's money and trade everyone in the farm system for the current perceived savior.

[Doomtints]

 

That made no sense at all. Are you talking about power hitting teams, good pitching teams, overall team performance? Those are three separate topics. Your initial comment was that the Twins were not known historically as a power team and I pointed out that for many years, they were. What's pitching got to do with it?

 

"For many years" = 5 years out of 59?

 

What's pitching got to do with it? Come on man, follow a thread. The Twins have historically been a pitching/defense team, not a hitting team.

[terrydactyls]

"For many years" = 5 years out of 59?

 

What's pitching got to do with it? Come on man, follow a thread. The Twins have historically been a pitching/defense team, not a hitting team.

From ESPN's MLB Database:

 

Twins finished in top 5 of MLB Homeruns - 8 times

Twins finished ranked 6-10 in MLB Homeruns - 14 times

Twins finished ranked 11-15 in MLB Homeruns - 11 times

 

That's 33 out of 58 seasons (I didn't include 2019) that the Twins finished in the top half of MLB in homeruns - 58%.

[yarnivek1972]

From ESPN's MLB Database:

 

Twins finished in top 5 of MLB Homeruns - 8 times

Twins finished ranked 6-10 in MLB Homeruns - 14 times

Twins finished ranked 11-15 in MLB Homeruns - 11 times

 

That's 33 out of 58 seasons (I didn't include 2019) that the Twins finished in the top half of MLB in homeruns - 58%.

There have only been 30 teams for about half of the Twins existence.

[Doomtints]

 

From ESPN's MLB Database:

Twins finished in top 5 of MLB Homeruns - 8 times
Twins finished ranked 6-10 in MLB Homeruns - 14 times
Twins finished ranked 11-15 in MLB Homeruns - 11 times

That's 33 out of 58 seasons (I didn't include 2019) that the Twins finished in the top half of MLB in homeruns - 58%.

 

There have only been 30 teams since the 90s, I believe.

 

How about this:

 

The Twins have been above league average in home runs 40% of the time since 1961. They led the MLB in home runs twice in total, both back in the era you alluded to, and one of those years only yielded 79 wins.

Edited July 6, 2019 by Doomtints

[terrydactyls]

There have only been 30 teams for about half of the Twins existence.

That's true but the Twins were in the top 10 most of the sixties and early seventies.