Failing to force a Game 5 after stealing home-field advantage from the Astros would go down as another monumental disappointment in Minnesota sports. But if there was ever a situation perfectly staged for the Twins to come through, it’s at Target Field Wednesday night.
The sun will be set so there will be no blaming the shadows. There should once again be 40,000 fans giving Minnesota an edge in Minneapolis.
Most importantly, Houston won’t have Justin Verlander or playoff extraordinaire Cristian Javier on the mound. Houston manager Dusty Baker named right-hander Jose Urquidy the starter for Game 4 and Twins batters have historically done quite well against him. Urquidy is a low strikeout, high contact pitcher who probably won’t last more than four innings. And Minnesota needs to make dividends while he’s on the mound.
Twins batters, in a smallish sample size of 34 at-bats, are slashing a combined .324/.343/.441 against Urquidy. Seven of those hits came when the Twins faced him in April, but as has been the case these playoffs the Twins weren’t able turn base runners into runs, going 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
Ironically, that was the day Sonny Gray struck out 13 Astros in seven innings and the Twins won 3-2 in 10 innings.
Minnesota is 5 for 37 with runners in scoring position through five playoff games. Any player coming up big with runners in scoring position will be welcome, but the big bats have to come through.
Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa, Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco failed in Game 3. Lewis alone left seven runners parked on base in Game 3 and Kepler struck out looking on three pitches when he batted with the bases loaded with one out in the fifth inning.
Thanks to the Texas Rangers wrapping up their series against the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday, Game 4 has been shifted to a 6:04 p.m. start – no more shadows across home plate, no more excuses.
“Jump on my back. I’m driving the bus tonight,” said Kirby Puckett before his historic Game 6 of the 1991 World Series.
The Twins need a Kirby Puckett to jump on in Game 4. And if they win they’ll need another hero in Game 5. If they don’t, it’ll be another traumatic experience for a beleaguered Minnesota fan base.
