The Twins head into the All-Star break with an impressive finale to the first half of their season, as Kyle Gibson and Miguel Sano led the way to a 7-1 win over the Detroit Tigers Sunday at Target Field.
Miguel Sano hit a two-run homer in the first inning, setting the pace for a slew of Twins runs.
#LetItSano! @SanoMiguel blasts his 2nd Major League homer. The 2-run shot sailed 384 feet to left field. 2-0 #MNTwins after the 1st.
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 12, 2015
The Twins added four more in the fourth.
With his sac fly, @BrianDozier drove in his 50th run of the season. He leads all MLB 2nd basemen in RBI. He's our All Star! #MNTwins
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 12, 2015
Trevor Plouffe hit his 11th home run of the season in the fifth.
#ICYMI @TPlouffe24 hit his 11th homer 409 feet to the ‘pen in the 5th. #MNTwins http://t.co/cHN3RYBQj6
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 12, 2015
It was the fourth straight win for Gibson, whose ERA has gone down to 2.85, MLB.com reports. According to the Associated Press, Gibson leads the league with 22 double-play ground balls.
.@kgib44 (8-6) is on a career-high 4-game winning streak. He's induced 22 double-plays in 2015, best in MLB. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/ken4Nn1vaO
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 12, 2015
Kyle Gibson has posted a 1.30 ERA over his last three starts, and a 2.09 ERA over his last six outings.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) July 12, 2015
Gibson (2.85) has 4th-lowest ERA (min. 12 starts) at break for #MNTwins since 1992:
Liriano 1.83 ('06)
Santana 2.75 '(07)
Radke 2.77 ('98)— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) July 12, 2015
The one run the Tigers managed came on an error, ending the Twins’ 10-game streak of error-free play, the AP reports.
The Twins took the weekend series three games to one, and head into the All-Star break with a 49-40 record.
They’re in second in the AL Central Division, trailing the Kansas City Royals by 4.5 games.
With 49 wins, that’s the most for #MNTwins pre-#ASG since 53 in 2008. They're 36-9 when scoring 4-or-more runs. pic.twitter.com/j7VKwdHMOb
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 12, 2015
The Twins hold the top wild card spot and haven’t had a first half of the season with this many wins since 2008.
Not a bad homestand to head into the break! 6-1 record: Sweep of the Orioles and taking 3-of-4 games from the Tigers. Go #MNTwins!
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 12, 2015
#MNTwins appear to like the odd months of 2015.
April 10-12
May 20-7
June 11-17
July 8-4 so far— Tim Arcand (@TArcand) July 12, 2015
Brian Dozier will represent the Twins at the All-Star game Tuesday, along with closer Glen Perkins. Dozier was added to the roster at the last minute when another player dropped out due to injury. It’s his first time as an All Star.
When the Twins return from break, they’ll travel to Oakland to take on the Athletics in a three-game series starting at 9 p.m. Friday, July 17. Ervin Santana is set to start. His ERA is 6.00 in two starts.
Today’s Twins trivia: Sunday marked the 19th anniversary of Twins legend’s Kirby Puckett’s retirement.
MT @PiPressArchives: This day in 1996, Kirby Puckett’s retirement stunned #MNTwins fans: http://t.co/yeynxomE4T pic.twitter.com/BcWUxFUhS4
— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) July 12, 2015
