MINNESOTA SPORTS FAN DAILY: Sunday, August 20, 2017

By Caleb Strack |

Updated: Jul 1, 2021

MSF Daily: 8/20/17

TWINS VS DIAMONDBACKs

Michael Cuddyer was induced into the Twins Hall of Fame before the game Saturday, saying his induction is the “pinnacle” of career. While MN sports fan was at the game we thought it started to look all too familiar when Jose Berrios labored through the first inning with 24 pitches, as we thought that it was gonna be a short outing for him and an early call to the bullpen, but it happened to be the other way around tonight as Berrios finished seven strong innings racking up 7 K’s and allowing 2 hits while giving up 0 runs. The Twins made Greinke work hard for his outing, starting with a 30 pitch first inning. Dozier worked 16 pitches over his first two plate appearances. As the Twins kept on grinding, it all came together in the 4th inning when Diamondback 2nd Basemen Daniel Descalso booted an almost certain double play. Jorge Polanco followed with a single to load the bases, when Jason Castro drew a walk to score the first run of the game. Brian Dozier scored the second run on an infield single, followed by a Max Kepler two run single and a Joe Mauer RBI single to make the game 5-0. Greinke finished with four innings pitched and 96(!!) pitches thrown. One bad note of the game, Miguel Sano was diagnosed with a sore lower left shin after hitting into an inning ending double play. Mitch Garver made his MLB debut hitting for Sano in the DH spot in the 7th inning, but struck out. Buxton stayed hot hitting his second triple in two games, but was stranded. Twins win 5-0!

A beautiful night for baseball. #MNTwins #views pic.twitter.com/cbnzBrrLQJ

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 20, 2017

GONSALVES NOT CALLED UP, AGAIN

With the twins having another doubleheader on Monday, they needed a pitcher to call up, while many, including us, were thinking Stephen Gonsalves should come make his Major League debut, the Twins aren’t on the same page, calling up 27 year old Tim Melville to start along with Dillon Gee. Melville currently has a 2.70 era with the triple A Rochester Red Wings. His only other Major League start was with the Reds in 2016 when he gave up 11 runs in 9 innings. Instead of calling up 23 year old prospect Stephen Gonsalves who recently got called up to Triple A, while he was having a good season with the Double A Chattanooga Lookouts.

GOPHERS FOOTBALL STRUGGLING TO SELL TICKETS TO OPENER

Apparently, Coach Fleck isn’t sweeping the Maroon and Gold faithful like he is the nation, and us, a spokesperson confirmed that only 40,000 tickets have been distributed by the athletic department in the 50,805 seat capacity TCF Bank Stadium. To me, it seems that Gophers fans are hesitant, because they have seen this type of hyped up coach before, and will wait a couple of weeks before they make the decision to buy in (literally) to this regime. Now, with that being said this is only to the season opener, against Buffalo, so its nothing to die for, but it will be exciting to see this team play in a new scheme and for the first time in a while.

MSF Daily by Caleb Strack