MIN 7, DET 6: Jake Cave Rakes, Twins Take Division Lead

Box Score

Maeda: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 9 K

Home Runs: Cave 2 (4), Rosario (13)

Top 3 WPA: Maeda .195, Cave .134, Clippard .122

Kenta Maeda Deal…. Again

Kenta Maeda continued to do what he’s done all year. Maeda allowed an infield single to Victor Reyes to start the game and responded by not allowing another hit until the sixth inning.

The sixth inning would be the worst and final inning of the night for Maeda. He allowed two Tigers hitters to reach base before surrendering a three-run home run to the future Hall of Famer, Miguel Cabrera.

Overall, Kenta Maeda did exactly what he’s done all year for Minnesota. He delivered yet another quality start, his eighth of the season in 11 starts.

He finished the night with a final line of 6 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 9 K

Small Ball and Bombas

The Twins offense got the scoring started in the third inning with a steady dose of small ball. Jorge Polanco singled on a soft line drive to the opposite field and would eventually steal second base. Marwin Gonzalez drove him in with a single to right and Marwin would later score the second run of the inning when Buxton grounded into a fielders’ choice.

Minnesota scored again in the fourth, this time with the long ball. The always patient and disciplined Eddie Rosario led off the inning with a walk and would eventually cross home plate courtesy of a two-run home run from Jake Cave, pushing the lead to 4-0. He got to wear the robe.

The Twins struck again in the fifth inning when Eddie Rosario followed in the footsteps of Jake Cave when he launched a two-run home run, extending the Minnesota lead to 6-0. He too got to wear the robe.

Jake Cave wore the robe again in the sixth when he led off the inning with an opposite field home run, answering the Tigers three-run inning and pushing the Twins lead to 7-3.

Twins Bullpen Closes the Door

It wasn’t clean but they got the job done. Bullpen ace Matt Wisler entered the game following the stellar outing from Kenta Maeda. Wisler didn’t pitch his best inning as he allowed the Tigers to load the bases with one out and was eventually relieved by Tyler Clippard.

Clippard showed veteran prowess as he was able to wiggle out of the bases loaded jam without surrendering a run and preserving the 7-3 Minnesota lead.

Jorge Alcala entered the game in the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning, setting up the ninth for Caleb Thielbar, who ran into some trouble after allowing two base runners and was relieved by Sergo Romo.

Sergio promptly served up a home run to Cabrera, his second of the night and narrowed the Twins lead to 7-6. Romo responded by inducing a ground out from the next batter and put the lights out on a 7-6 Twins victory.

After tonight's win and a loss from the White Sox, the Twins are back on top of the AL Central.

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