May 15, 2017

Twins take series from Tribe, but can’t complete sweep

The Twins couldn’t complete the sweep of the Cleveland Indians on Sunday, losing 8-3 to end a four-game winning streak.

For pitcher Hector Santiago, who did not pitch to Jason Castro (read whatever you want into that), it was his worst start of the year. He lasted only two-plus innings and gave up seven hits, including three home runs. The Indians had an 8-0 lead by the third inning and the Twins never recovered.

The loss cut the Twins’ American League Central lead to one game over the Indians. The Twins get Monday off and then come home to host the National League West-leading Colorado Rockies, followed by the suddenly surging Kansas City Royals, 7-3 in their last 10 games.

Extra innings…

-The Twins have played improved baseball this season, but have only one sweep to their credit. And that sweep came in an opening trio of games against the Royals.

-Phil Hughes gets the ball on Tuesday at home against the Rockies.

COMMENTS

Hi, I’m Rolf Boone, Twins fan.

I became a fan of the Minnesota Twins after a friendly wager in the early 1980s. I survived Ron Davis, the meltdown in Cleveland, Phil Bradley at the Kingdome and then marveled at a rising generation of stars and two World Series wins in 1987 and 1991. Brad Radke made the 1990s bearable, while Kirby Puckett’s eye injury, exit from the game and eventual death made it almost too much to bear. The new century ushered in more talent — Joe Mauer, Johan Santana, Joe Nathan, Torii Hunter, Justin Morneau — and consecutive seasons of playoff baseball, followed by consecutive seasons of losing baseball. A winning season returned in 2015. So here we are. Go Twins.