The calendar might say March, but who cares when it’s Twins vs. Yankees? Any win over their arch-rival is something to celebrate.
Max Kepler hit a home run and that’s all the Twins needed on Monday in their 1-0 win as seven pitchers took the mound to three-hit the Bronx Bombers. The win went to journeyman reliever Brock Stewart, who walked three batters and struck out the side.
Joey Gallo is probably relieved to be a Twin because even in Florida, Yankees fans found reason to boo a player. In this case, it was ex-Twin and current Yankee Aaron Hicks, who struck out twice and got an earful from the fans. Fans that boo during spring training? Now that’s a tough crowd.
Extra innings …
-The Twins are now 8-7 in Grapefruit League play.
-Over the weekend, the Twins dropped a game to the Detroit Tigers 8-7 and edged the Boston Red Sox 4-3.
Twins pitcher Aaron Sanchez had nothing working right in his start against the Tigers. He allowed seven runs, all earned, on eight hits in only two innings of work. The pitcher who followed him served up a home runs and the Twins found themselves losing 8-0. They made things interesting with a seven-run rally, but that was it. Oregon state man Trevor Larnach hit a home run, scored two runs, drove in two runs, struck out once and walked.
Reliever Griffin Jax made an appearance and struck out the side.
-In the win over the Red Sox, the Twins fell behind early after starter Tyler Mahle allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits. It was a so-so effort from him. He allowed seven hits in two-plus innings, but he did have four strikeouts.
The four-run rally was sparked by a Ryan Jeffers’ home run and extra-base hits from Kepler and Jose Miranda.
-Ex-Yankee Joe Pepitone has died at 82, the New York Times reported on Monday. He had some good years with the Yankees, but otherwise struggled with off-the-field problems both during and after his career. A check of Baseball-Reference.com shows he hit .217 against the Twins.
-Legendary Minnesota Vikings coach Bud Grant also passed away recently. He was 95. Here’s a life worth remembering: Born in Wisconsin, he later attended the University of Minnesota, then played for the Minneapolis Lakers and in the NFL. He won more than 100 games and four Grey Cup titles as head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, then moved on to the Vikings, winning more than 150 games south of the border. A Super Bowl title, however, remained elusive. Grant and the Purple People Eaters made four trips to the big game and never won.