Rogers Blows Save; Pirates Avoid Sweep vs Twins

By jkewitsch |

Updated: Aug 6, 2020

The Bombas are back, but it wasn’t enough to get by the WORST TEAM IN BASEBALL. As the Twins fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 in a game they controlled through 8.5 innings. Then, Taylor Rogers blew the save in the bottom of the ninth and allowed a two-run walk-off single.

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BOMBAS ARE BACK

It was a perfect start for the Twins offensively. Miguel Sano got back to his slugging ways, hitting a missile over the left field wall at 114 mph. This drove in three and gave the Twins an early lead.

A Sanó storm with a direct hit at PNC Park. ?❄️?❄️?❄️#BombaSquad | #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/A7fJltgBdv
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 6, 2020

Yet Sano wasn’t the only one to get in on the action. Both Eddie Rosario and Byron Buxton went yard to center. For a team who hit a record 307 home runs in 2019, having gone a couple of games without one before Wednesday was…weird.

Shiver me timbers!

?????#BombaSquad | #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/a9rX1631cE
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 6, 2020

Heave ho, Bucko! ☠️?#MNTwins | #BombaSquad pic.twitter.com/DKp58C35bX
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 6, 2020

The Twins currently have 20 team home runs. Sitting only three back of the damn Yankees. Still plenty of time for them to catch up and retain the Bomba Squad crown.

MAEDA STILL ROLLING

Although Kenta Maeda gave up a three-run home run to Gregory Polanco in the second to tie it at three, it was the only damage he would allow. Going six innings allowing just three hits and one walk, while striking out four. The home run put a dent into his near-sterling ERA, but it wasn’t much. As Maeda now has a 2.65 ERA, which is still top-tier.

He could have given up only two hits had it not been for the official scorer ruling Sano booting the ball as a single. This should have been ruled an error and also would have given Maeda only two earned runs instead of three. Damn you human errors!

Kenta Maeda allowed three hits in six innings. One of them was a ball misplayed by Miguel Sanó and another was his only big mistake — a homer by Gregory Polanco.

18 rather clean, efficient outs outside of that. Another great start.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) August 6, 2020

OFF TO KANSAS CITY

The Twins will head to Kansas City to face the Royals in the coming series. With Devin Smeltzer (1-0, 11.57 ERA) on the mound for the Twins, it looks to be a bullpen-heavy outing. He will go up against Jakob Junis (0-0, 4.15 ERA).

As announced today, Saturday’s game will feature Jake Odorizzi making his first start of 2020. Finally being cleared from the injured list.

The Royals series kicks off a 16-game stretch where the Twins will face the Royals and Brewers in alternating series. With both teams struggling, it is the perfect chance to runaway with the AL Central.

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan