The Twins wrapped up their West Coast road trip with a losing record after they dropped both series to the Dodgers and Angels, including Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Halos.
And once again a familiar pattern reared its head for the Twins: Great starting pitching, terrible situational hitting (the Twins again could not score with the bases loaded) and the bullpen couldn’t hold the line when it mattered most.
Despite the loss, Pablo Lopez made another quality start, allowing just two runs over six innings with three walks and nine strikeouts. The Twins have made 24 quality starts this season, which accounts for 50 percent of the staff’s total starts, 15 percent better than the league average, according to Baseball-Reference.com.
Leading the way is starter Joe Ryan, who has made eight of nine quality starts this season. The Twins now head home to play the San Francisco Giants. Bailey Ober gets the ball.
Extra innings …
-On May 20, 1970, Rod Carew hits the first cycle in Twins history for a 10-5 win on the road against the Kansas City Royals. Carew, of course, has a 4-for-5 day at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI.
The Minneapolis Tribune caught up with Carew after the game.
“Asked about his newest thrill in hitting for the cycle, Carew said, ‘Maybe I’ll get a bonus. Do you think?'”
-Some more history: The Angels joined the American League in 1961, the same year the original Washington Senators became the Minnesota Twins. The Angels started the season on the road, then finally came home on April 27 to play their first home game — against the Twins, a game they lost.
The Twins beat them 4-2 (Just like the Angels beat them 4-2 on May 21, 2023). The win went to starter Camilo Pascual and was powered by Earl Battey who hit a three-run home run.
-On May 21, 2009, the Twins, on the road, hammer the Chicago White Sox, 20-1. Joe Mauer hits a grand slam with two doubles and Michael Cuddyer has a 4-for-6 day at the plate, scoring four runs and driving in three more.
-And on May 21, 1981, Yale’s Ron Darling and St. John’s Frank Viola pitched scoreless baseball for 11 innings. Read all about it here.