Home Opener at Target Field.
What began as a pitcher’s duel, didn’t end like one. Pablo Lopez worked 3 quick innings for Minnesota, and it seemed like the Twins were well on their way to a home opening win. Cleveland had other plans. Guardians pitching struck out 15 (Nine by starting pitcher Tanner Bibee). Lopez went 5.2 IP allowing 6 hits & 3 Earned Runs for Minnesota with 35,595 fans in attendance.
Minnesota struggled to put hits and runs together. Not until the 5th inning when second baseman Edouard Julien hit a solo HR over the Left Field wall. It brought the Twins within 2 runs, but it would be as close as they would get for the rest of the game. Minnesota’s offense could not get it going, leaving 9 runners left on base and going 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position.
Cleveland’s Steven Kwan had 3 hits and 1 run scored, which helped propel the Guardians to a 4-2 victory. Minnesota’s only other run came on a pass ball allowing Willi Castro to score from third. The Twins are now 3-3 on the season with 2 more games to go in this 3-game series.
The Twins will continue their homestand early next week when the Los Angeles Dodgers come to town. They will then head out on the road with stops in Detroit & Baltimore