MINNESOTA SPORTS FAN DAILY: Sunday, September 3, 2017

By Eric Strack |

Updated: Sep 3, 2017

MSF Daily: 9/3/17

Twins WIN Game 2 of 3 vs Royals; Offense on FIRE:

There isn’t much to say. The Twins were leading this game 4-0 after 1 inning, 10-0 after 2 innings, 14-0 after 5 innings, and 17-0 after 7 innings.

The bats were on fire like they have been all second-half. Kyle Gibson continued his recent hot streak. He held a shutout through 6 innings before giving the game to the bullpen. He finished, giving up just 5 hits and striking out 5.

The bullpen held on and the Twins won their most decisive shutout of all-time.

Here’s how it happened:

BYRON IS BACK!@OfficialBuck103 and the @Twins are up 4-0 after a big 1st inning! They’re live NOW on #FOXSportsGO https://t.co/2hvVVGOsuC pic.twitter.com/p0suTpVPJg

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) September 2, 2017

Jorge Polanco dispara doble al central para aumentar la ventaja de los Twin.. ?https://t.co/A5pyzsQE9p
Vía MLB pic.twitter.com/axl8DTcigk

— Platano Power RD (@PlatanoPowerDO) September 3, 2017

Jorge Polanco aumentan la ventaja en el 2do para poner el juego 7-0 ?https://t.co/qqohb91Tr7
Vía MLB pic.twitter.com/Cm6eY9F5hX

— Platano Power RD (@PlatanoPowerDO) September 3, 2017

Brian Dozier hits a 3-run home run for his 27th home run of the season!!! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/VGuAIcUVN6

— TheRenderMLB (@TheRenderMLB_) September 3, 2017

Eduardo Escobar hits a 3-run home run for his 14th home run of the season!!! #RaisedRoyal pic.twitter.com/xuGVE1gTNF

— TheRenderMLB (@TheRenderMLB_) September 3, 2017

After Saturday’s game the Twins sit ~~2.5 games ahead of the Angels for the 2nd Wild Card spot, after they lost to the Rangers tonight~~ 2 games ahead of the Angels, who seem to be on the verge of pulling out a nice late-inning comeback vs the Rangers. They also sit just 1 game behind the Yankees for that top WC spot. The chase for Cleveland, and any hopes of winning the division, are about over at 8 games back. The Indians just don’t lose.

On Sunday, the Twins will play a day game to finish off the series. Ervin Santana will take the mound and he probably won’t need 20 runs to win. He faces off against Ian Kennedy who has had a rough year, going 4-10 with a 5.47 ERA.

Vikings release Alex Boone and others to bring roster to 53:

Alex Boone was never what the Minnesota Vikings had hoped. He was all bark and no bite. The Vikings waived the white flag and released him today, as part of their effort to get the roster down from 90 to 53.

Our first 53-man roster of the 2017 season has been set.

?: https://t.co/NXTMmExxE4 pic.twitter.com/93Q7FpHro7

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 2, 2017

First look at the 53.

?: https://t.co/92ehLpq6Dr pic.twitter.com/p9V5LztS0C

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 2, 2017

Teddy Bridgewater officially sent to PUP List:

As part of their roster moves on Saturday, the Vikings sent Teddy Bridgewater to the PUP List. That means two things. He WILL NOT be playing until Week 6 this season AND he WILL be a Minnesota Viking next season, according to Article 20 of the NFL CBA. You can read more here:

UPDATED 9/2/17: #Vikings move Teddy to PUP List – What happens now? Find out here: https://t.co/S6ddXD0AMI

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) September 3, 2017

Twins’ Minor Leagues are strong – All 7 likely to make playoffs:

If you are wondering whether or not the Twins have a good minor league system, just look at the record. As a whole, the affiliates are 433-300 on the season, according to the StarTribune. All 7 teams are likely to make the playoffs at this point.

This is an incredible feat and it shows 2 major things.

The minor league talent for the Twins is good and it is deep. All levels don’t make the postseason if that isn’t the case.
The minor league coaching is top-notch. Led my Jake Mauer and Doug Mientkiewicz, the coaching staff has been able to successfully handle a season where they have shuffled players between the majors and minors. More players have played this season, for the Twins, than any other season before. Yet all levels will make the playoffs.

The future is bright. Here is much much more from Phil Miller of the StarTribune:

This is incredible… 433-300 as a whole according to @MillerStrib #MNTwins https://t.co/XGOMZzXRWy

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) September 3, 2017

MSF Daily by Eric Strack @RealMNSportsFan