Ex-Dodger Rich Hill looked every bit like a 40-year-old pitcher and the bullpen was just as bad as the Brewers scored early and often to beat the Twins, 9-3, on Wednesday.
Hill got into trouble right away, lasting all of two-plus innings. He allowed four runs, all earned, on 53 pitches. He also walked three and served up a home run and his night was done. And then things really went downhill.
Minnesota native Caleb Thielbar made a scoreless appearance, but lefty, Lewis Thorpe, did not. The Aussie got knocked around pretty good, giving up four runs, all earned, on six hits, including two home runs, over four innings. He also walked three batters.
By then the game was out of reach so Twins manager Rocco Baldelli called on infielder, Ehire Adrianza, to pitch the ninth. He gave up a home run to Brewers DH Keston Hiura, which for Hiura must have felt like sweet revenge after the Twins caught him loafing earlier in the game.
With a man on first, Hiura hit an infield fly that Twins infielder Ildemaro Vargas decided to let fall to the ground because Hiura didn’t run out the pop fly. Once the ball fell to the ground, Vargas turned a double play to get two outs rather than just one flyout.
Jose Berrios gets the ball Thursday in the rubber match. Boy, does he need to make a good start.
Extra innings…
-Catcher Mitch Garver exited Wednesday’s game with an apparent injury.
-Marwin Gonzalez had two hits, including a ninth inning home run. Miguel Sano also had two hits, including his third double in the series.
-Eddie Rosario has made some nice plays of late, but he committed an error Wednesday when he overthrew home plate.
-If you’re wondering what the headline is in reference to, Twins pitcher Kenta Maeda pitched no-hit ball for eight innings on Tuesday before giving up a single in the top of the ninth inning.