MIN 12, ARI 5: Twins Sweep Arizona, Have Won 11 of Last 14

Win Expectancy (via Fangraphs)

Top 3 Twins per WPA: Buxton .125 | Kepler .096 | Polanco .069

The Twins offense put up a nine spot to open the game, ensuring it would be a nice little low-stress Sunday at the ballpark. That kind of an inning obviously took a team effort, but Eddie Rosario provided the marquee moment when he absolutely crushed a grand slam.

https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/899354209388187648

Chris Gimenez also had a banner day, coming up a triple shy of the cycle. He was 3-for-3 with three runs, two RBI and a hit-by-pitch. Brian Dozier hit a home run, his 25th, on a ball that was up at about chin level and drew three walks. In his five plate appearances, Dozier saw 31 pitches. Mitch Garver, who started at first base, got his first career hit on an infield single and drew a walk.

Bartolo Colon did exactly what you’d expect a veteran starter to do when spotted a huge lead. He ended up surrendering four runs on seven hits, but he also gave the Twins six innings and threw 62 of his 91 pitches for strikes, punching out six batters while walking two. With yet another doubleheader looming tomorrow, that was a key performance from Bartolo.

Ryan Pressly was the first man out of the bullpen and followed suit. He went right after hitters, pitching two perfect innings. Glen Perkins came in for the ninth, his second appearance of the season, and gave up a run on two hits. He averaged 91.9 mph on his fastball, topping out at 92.9, per Baseball Savant.

Utility infielder Daniel Descalso pitched the eighth inning for Arizona. How perfect would it have been if Gimenez hit a triple off a position player to complete his cycle? Unfortunately, Descalso retired the Twins in order.

Postgame With Rosario

https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/899390669805953024

Twins W-L Record

Overall: 63-59

Last 10: 7-3

Last 20: 13-7

Last 40: 21-19

Last 80: 39-41

AL Central Standings

Cleveland 68-54

Minnesota 63-59 (-5.0)

Kansas City 62-61 (-6.5)

AL Wild Card Standings

WC1: Yankees 66-57 (+2.5)

WC2: Twins 63-59

Angles 64-60 (back mere percentage points)

Kansas City 62-61 (-1.5)

Seattle 63-62 (-1.5)

Bullpen Usage

Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days:

Looking Ahead

MON: Twins (TBD) at White Sox (Carson Fulmer), 4:10 pm CT

MON: Twins (TBD) at White Sox (Carlos Rodon), Game 2

TUE: Twins (Kyle Gibson) at White Sox (Lucas Giolito), 7:10 pm CT

WED: Twins (Ervin Santana) at White Sox (James Shields), 7:10 pm CT

Question of the Day

The MLB Little League Classic is tonight. Do you have any memories to share of meeting a ballplayer when you were a kid? If not, who was your favorite player growing up?