The Minnesota Twins are moving on to the American League Divisional Series after sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 in the best-of-three Wild Card round. Now the Twins will meet the Houston Astros in a best-of-five series beginning Saturday in Houston. Here are five things that stood out in Minnesota’s Game 2 win.
1. Sonny Gray stingy with two runners on
- Two on, two out in the first inning: Gray strikes out Cavan Biggio looking to end the inning.
- Two on, one out in the second inning: Gray recorded the second out on a sacrifice bunt and then George Springer lined out to left field to end the inning.
- Two on, two out in the fifth inning: Gray picked off Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at second base to end the inning. It was even bigger since Bichette was at the plate with a 3-2 count.
However, Sonny is incredibly stingy with 2 outs and RISP with opponents slashing: .173/.303/.200 .503 OPS against him. #MNTwins #WeBelieveinTC
— Declan Goff (@DexsTweets) October 4, 2023
2. Let’s talk about that pick-off play
Gray spinning and picking off Guerrero at second base to end Toronto’s threat in the fifth was arguably the play of the game. Bo Bichette, far and away Toronto’s most dangerous hitter of the series, had a 3-2 count and had seen pretty much everything Gray had to throw his way. But instead of Bichette getting the chance to beat the Twins, Guerrero was caught napping and the Twins got out of the jam.
What a massive pickoff by the @Twins! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/i4g9ULQmjx
— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2023
Correa made a great tag on the play, continuing his stellar defensive play that featured one of the great postseason throws by a shortstop in Minnesota’s win over the Jays in Game 1.
Overall, defense has been very strong for the Twins. Joining Correa’s great throw and Gray’s amazing pick-off move were Michael A. Taylor’s diving and leaping catches in Game 1 and Donovan Solano’s diving stop to end the first game of the series.
3. Was decision to pull Jose Berrios premeditated?
The plan all along may have been to pull Berrios in the fourth inning. According to the Twins radio broadcast, left-hander Yasiel Kikuchi was putting the communications device in his hat before Berrios walked Royce Lewis to start the fifth. Kikuchi then gave up a single to Max Kepler, walked Donovan Solano and allowed an RBI single to Carlos Correa.
Another run came in to score on a double-play ball and the Twins were leading 2-0.
Had Berrios remaining in the game, none of that may have transpired. Everyone watching could see Berrios dominating, making batters look off-balance with an arsenal of tailing fastballs, nasty slurves and and filthy changeups. The former Twins right-handed struck out the side in the third inning and had allowed just three week base hits and had thrown only 47 pitches when he was pulled.
4. Game of inches on critical foul ball
With the bases loaded and one out in the sixth inning — and the Twins leading 2-0 — Matt Chapman laced a line drive down the left field line that went inches outside the chalk line. Had it been fair it would’ve at least tied the game. Instead, it was foul by the narrowest of margins and Chapman grounded into an inning-ending double play on the next pitch.
Matt Chapman was inches from giving the Jays the lead then he grounded into a rally-killing double play pic.twitter.com/RVCj86RBNg
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 4, 2023
6. 4. 3. đź‘Ť pic.twitter.com/gxy6NLxFxy
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) October 4, 2023
5. Griffin Jax and Cavan Biggio collide
Jax pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning and he had to earn every ounce of the third out as Biggio hit a slow roller up the first baseline that forced Jax to field it directly in Biggio’s path, causing a big collision between the two.
Griffin Jax got bodied but held on to make the play to end the eighth pic.twitter.com/uibbAgrmKj
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 4, 2023
Jax took the hit from Biggio and held onto the ball. As it turns out, Jax is the son of Garth Jax, who played 10 seasons in the NFL for the Cowboys from 1986-89 and the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals from 1987-95.
