Nuttiest Border Battle

Twins 4

Brewers 3

Considering this season itself is just bizarre in every way, it is surprising that we got this far in before there was a truly insane Twins game. 

This game went from potential history to absolute disaster to comical to relief.

Kenta Maeda was brilliant. If that trade wasn't already secured as a big win for the Twins, it is now. He has been their best starting pitcher this year, and tonight was his apex. 8 no hit innings. At one point a franchise record 8 straight strikeouts.

Before the game went loco, the issue was would Maeda even have the shot to go the full 9. His pitch count was high but Rocco gave him his chance. And then he lost it right away on some stupid fucking bloop single. 

But oh well, got a 3 run lead. Here comes Taylor Rogers to finish up. 

Ugggggggggggh!

Immediately our hopefully now EX-closer implodes yet again, which has become a habit. Double, walk, single. Then a grounder that was not going to be a DP but the try was made anyway. Throwing error. Tying run scores. That error might have taken Rogers off the hook for some. Not for me. I am DONE with this guy as the closer. But I'll get back to him. 

So we go to extras, and we get the joy of finally experiencing the stupid rule for the year where extra innings start with a runner on 2nd. Neither team did much in either the 10th or 11th. 

In the 12th Jorge Alcala gets in a jam, 1st and 3rd with none out, then 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Max Kepler made a great diving catch, that coupled with some bad baserunning cost the Brewers their chance to take the lead.

Buxton hit into a double play to end the 11th, but in a lucky quirk this meant HE was the runner on 2nd to start the 12th. Avila moved him over. And a couple batters later Polanco squirted one just deep enough in the infield to allow Buxton to slide home. Twins win.

The win was more a relief than anything.

And Taylor Rogers is officially on my shit list. Seriously, he CAN'T be the closer anymore. I don't know what the issue is, but this is 3 times he has imploded in the last few weeks, not to mention a couple other shaky outings. When you only have 60 games, you can't afford to have your closer kick games away like this. And when it appears that your lineup is just not going to be that potent force they were last year, and that your games will be lower scoring, having a guy like Rogers go screw around out there all the time is suicide.

I don't know what the issue is. It could just be that this is what happens with relievers a lot. Sometimes they just lose it. A few years ago Trevor Hildenberger was one of the best relievers in baseball, and then in a flash he was just garbage. It be like that sometimes. Rogers could just be done. He definitely needs to be demoted though until he gets his shit together. He should not pitch in a close game later than the 6th until he shows he can be trusted to not blow up.