The Twins returned home to play the Chicago White Sox Friday night and they didn’t disappoint.
Backed by nine extra-base hits (six doubles and three more home runs) the Twins took an early lead, surrendered it and then slugged their way to an 11-4 comeback win. The Twins have now hit 101 home runs in the first 50 games of the season, according to MLB.com.
“The way these games are playing out, we just try to keep it rolling,” Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli told MLB.com. “We try to keep doing what we’re doing. We don’t get caught up in a lot of the things going on. It’s good it’s being talked about because it has been impressive and guys are doing a great job. But in the clubhouse, it’s more about how do we do it again the next game.”
Eddie Rosario hit his 15th home run of the season, Max Kepler connected for his 11th and Miguel Sano hit his fifth dinger since rejoining the team a week ago. Now that’s scary.
The night belonged to Rosario and Kepler. Rosie went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs and Kepler had three hits in four at bats and drove in four runs.
Starter Jose Berrios got into trouble early, largely because of a Jorge Polanco throwing error, but he settled down and pitched six-plus innings to improve to 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA. Berrios gave up four runs, but only one run was earned.
Kyle Gibson gets the ball Saturday.
Extra innings…
-The Twins are 34-16.
-Twins fans finally showed up at Target Field. About 30,000 attended Friday’s game.
-Twins reliever Austin Adams, who got roughed up at the end of Thurday’s Angels game, has been designated for assignment. In his place, the Twins called up Zack Littell, who pitched two innings of scoreless baseball with two strikeouts Friday night.
-Old friend Ervin Santana, who spent four seasons with the Twins and won 16 games in 2017, has signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
-And in news I forgot to mention, the Twins have released relief pitcher Addison Reed.
#MNTwins have set the following team records through 50 games:
Run Differential (+97)
Runs Scored (300)
Home Runs (101)
Extra-Base Hits (217)
Total Bases (899)
Slugging Percentage (.521)
OPS (.863)And they tied the team record for wins through 50 games, with 34.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) May 25, 2019
And to think Nelson Cruz hasn’t been in the lineup.