Kicking Ass(tro)

Twins 9

Astros 3

Saturday afternoon at Target Field was kind of the total package of a ballgame. Great weather, packed stadium, good well-paced game with a lot happening (including a couple very memorable moments), and most importantly a Twins win. Their 50th of the year.

The Twins bats have been hot on this homestand, and they picked right back up against Houston's Hunter Brown. Brown had given up just a single ER in his last 5 starts, but the Twins tagged him for 2 in the 1st. 

There was much buzz surrounding Jose Miranda, who entered the game on a historic hot streak. 10 hits in his last 10 at bats. That streak ended when Brown drilled him on the hand. Given the Twins injury luck, you figured it might be serious. It wasn't. Jose stayed in the game, and then got singles in each of his next 2 at bats. That streak of 12 straight hits in official at bats matched an MLB record last reached in 1952. What an amazing resurrection for Miranda, who had a big rookie year 2 years ago, then a disastrous 2023 and given the Twins IF prospect situation looked to maybe not even have a future with the franchise.

The Twins put up 2 in the 1st, then another 3 in the 2nd. In the 3rd, Brooks Lee hit one into the right field flowers for his 1st career homerun. And later, Byron Buxton found the left field bleachers for a 2 run shot.

Joe Ryan, who I had seen lose twice in person this year, overcame the me curse and had a good workhorse type of start. 5 2/3, 3 runs, 8 KS. He kind of wore down on a warm day, but Alcala, Sands, and even Thielbar tossed up 3 1/3 of zeroes to seal the deal.

The Twins have kind of settled in to being about the team I expected. Adequate pitching, and with a potent lineup that on most days can carry them. It's just the individual performers being unexpected.