The Twins’ lineup isn’t exactly firing on all cylinders, but when you have a power-hitting roster as deep as the Twins have somebody is bound to answer the call.
On Saturday, it was slugger Miguel Sano. Sano, mired in an early slump, broke out of it in a big way with two solo shots, Eddie Rosario hit one out as well, and starter Kenta Maeda and the bullpen did the rest, hurling a two-hit shutout to win 3-0. The Twins now go for the series win over Cleveland on Sunday.
Maeda looked even better on Saturday than he did in his debut with the Twins. He 1-hit the Tribe over six innings, then stepped aside for three relievers who allowed only one more hit the rest of the way. Maeda is already 2-0 on the young season.
Twins beat writer Do-Hyoung Park recently described Twins reliever Taylor Rogers as a “stone-cold killer,” and Rogers was precisely that as he notched his third save on 13 pitches.
The Twins are now 6-2 and lead the Indians by one game in the AL Central.
Extra innings…
-The Twins will use their first opener on Sunday, giving the ball to relief pitcher Tyler Clippard.
-After the Indians leave town, the Twins host the Pittsburgh Pirates for two games, then head to Pittsburgh for two more. Then they stay on the road for three games at Kansas City, three more at Milwaukee, and then return home to play the same two teams.