Both starter Connor Prielipp and reliever Travis Adams were doing alright… until they weren’t. Some bad defense didn’t help, either! Inning-by-inning notes:
1: Oops Byron. We still love you, but oops. He hits one to left and admires it for a sec; it hits the wall and THEN Bux turns on the speed. He’s thrown out at second.
The Dbacks have their City Connect jerseys on (or their normal alternates, I do not know), and they’re a dark purplish-blue. They look like something that would glow under a black light. They manage a walk and an infield hit, but Connor Prielipp gets the ground ball third out. This time.
2: Weird. Starter Michael Soroka has to leave; something in his leg is bothering him. Hopefully it’s not the same stuff he had trouble with in 2020-2022.
RHP Taylor Clarke in; he’s part of a Very Good Dbacks bullpen. Well-struck balls by Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee end up in fantastic catches by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Corbin Carroll (no relation to former Twin Jamie). Victor Caratini hit a solo shot, though! Not the guy you’d expect! We’ll take it.
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A nice little seven-pitch inning for Connor! We’ll take it. Twins 1-0
3: RHP sidearmer Ryan Thompson in. Luke Keaschall singles off him, and advances on a FC. Buxton takes a ꓘ, and then a Klobberin’ Kody Klemens grounder takes a really sprightly hop and jumps past 3B Nolan Arenado’s glove. It’s ruled an error, which I don’t think is correct, but in any case Keaschall doubles the mighty lead.
LuJames Groover has a great baseball name, and he grooves one about four inches short of a homer; he pulls in at 2B. Prielipp gets the next out, then walks Geraldo Perdomo to but Corbin Carroll up with two on; not what you want. He singles to left, one run scores. Then Prielipp induces the GIDP; good Connor, good boy! Lakes over Snakes 2-1
4: RHP Drey Jameson in. Why am I listing their names? I don’t know who they are and neither do you. I suppose it’s habit. Anyhoo he walks Brooks Lee with one out. Then Caratini. (Really, you don’t need to walk Caratini.) Tristan Gray hits one that’s guaranteed to be a DP, but it hits the bag and second and bounces over the fielder’s head; Lee scores. Then Keaschall hits into the second chance DP, but still, not the worst LOBsters the Twins have done lately.
Nolan Arenado with the one-out single. Gets the next guy, and then Jordan Lawlar singles; runners at 1st and 3rd. Then an easy flyout to Buxton, so still Twinkers 3-1
5: Back-to-back singles for Larnach and Buxton. Clemens flies out, Josh Bell strikes out, and Royce Lewis has an “excuse me” swing that lofts nicely into a glove. THAT’s the LOBsters we’re used to!
Third time through the lineup for Prielipp. He walks the first guy, gets the second, and Carroll doubles the runner to third. Lee, playing in, boots a grounder and the runner scores. Then Gurriel Jr. hits one to short and if it was played well, it might have been a DP; it’s not played well, and Carroll scores.
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Arenado singles, and Prielipp balks both runners into scoring position. Guess what? They both score. The “third time through the lineup” thing didn’t go so well! Arizoners 5-3
6: RHP Jonathan Loáisiga in; his name is not pronounced like pasta. Twins down 1-2-3.
Prielipp still in? OK, whatever, have a nice day. He strikes out the #9 Groover, but not the #1 Ketel Marte. Long gone dong. Then a strikeout and flyout, but still it’s the Grand Canyon State 6-3
7: Lefty Aramis Garcia in; he walks the leadoff Keaschall, and Austin Martin DB-5 pinch hits for Trevor Larnach. Martin strikes out on three pitches and now you’ve lost one of your better hitters for the rest of the game. The highlight of this inning is when Buxton hits it to second and Keaschall does some silly dancing with 2B Marte.
Travis “who?” Adams pitching for the Twins. A one-out hit by Gurriel Jr., a eight pitch strikeout of Arenado, strikeout of Ildemaro Vargas (no relation to onetime “next David Ortiz” Kennys).
8: RHP Kevin Ginkel, who has a 2.60 ERA so far this season, gives up back-to-back jacks. One to Josh Bell, one to Royce Lewis. A one-out Caratini walk, and he’s replaced with pinch-running rookie Kyler Fedko. Fedko runs as Tristan Gray strikes out; he gets a terrible jump and isn’t close to making it.
Adams makes a very nice barehanded play on a bunt-for-hit attempt and JUST misses getting the runner by half a step. Then an infield single, then a Marte strikeout. Perdomo walks; Carroll up with the bases loaded. From some reason Adams stays in.
On Adams’s 42nd pitch of the relief stint, Carroll hits a triple. More great pitching management Derek baby! Cody Laweryson gets the last two outs but it’s Rattlers 9-5
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9: Paul Sewald puts the team out of their misery 1-2-3, Twins lose.
Studs: Sure, will give Caratini one. Why not? Bell and Lewis, all the dingers.
Duds: half Prielipp/Adams, half Shelton for leaving both in too long. Infield defense (again).
COTG goes to gintzer for sharing tales of his grumpy Gus basketball coach. Thanks to everyone who joined in; a late start plus Apple TV is a deadly combination!
Tomorrow’s game is at 9:10, and features their Zac Gallen against our own Taj Bradley. Catch y’all next time!
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