I don’t care if it’s a pick-up game, a softball game, or some kind of private exhibition at either Yankee Stadium or Target Field. Anytime the Twins can run up the score on the New York Yankees is cause for celebration.
So break out the party hats and funny whistles because on Thursday the Twins pounded the Pinstripers, 15-0, in Grapefruit League play.
Luke Keaschall, who looks more than ready for the regular season, had a 3-for-4 day at the plate, including a home run, and dove in four runs as well.
Matt Wallner, Gabriel Gonzalez — who came over from the M’s in the Jorge Polanco trade — and James Outman had two hits apiece in the 16-hit attack.
On the mound, Taj Bradley got back on track, limiting the Yankees to just one hit across four innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
Other good news:
- Portland, Oregon’s Mick Abel continues to be the talk of Fort Myers, or so I would think, anyway, because he made another scoreless appearance on Saturday. He has yet to allow an earned run or a walk (!) across 10 innings this spring with 13 strikeouts.
- Zebby Matthews took down team Puerto Rico on Wednesday, allowing just a run over four innings. He’s now 2-0 this spring with a 1.50 ERA.
- Does prospect Alan Roden want a role on this Twins team? I would say so because he continues to mash. Roden had a 3-for-3 day with three runs scored in the Twins’ 6-3 over Puerto Rico.
Extra innings…
–How about Luis Arraez’s performance on Saturday for team Venezuela? The ex-Twin had four extra-base hits — two dingers and two doubles — in Venezuela’s 11-3 win over Israel.
–Fellow ex-Twin and Toronto Blue Jays’ starter Jose Berrios continues to battle for a spot in a crowded Jays’ rotation, as noted by MLB.com. Berrios has so far pitched to a 3.38 ERA across three starts this spring.
–All Twins fans experienced a nail-biting moment in team USA’s game against Brazil after Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch and later came out of the game. The very last thing the Twins need is for Buck to be hurt again, but it was soon reported that he was OK and had avoided injury.