Taylor Rogers blew the save the ninth inning after Kenta Maeda held the Brewers hitless for eight innings, but the Twins wound up beating the Brewers 4-3 in 12 innings on a walk-off grounder by Jorge Polanco that scored Byron Buxton.
The night started well as Maeda’s brilliance carried the Twins with masterful command that led to the right-hander striking out 12, including a franchise record eight in a row at one point. He retired 22 consecutive Brewers at one point and took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before Eric Sogard’s bloop single just over the glove of Jorge Polanco ended the no-hit bid.
🔥 8 STRAIGHT STRIKEOUTS 🔥
Kenta Maeda sets a new @Twins record! pic.twitter.com/lzTnzhnqsI
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) August 19, 2020
Maeda’s performance made up for a silent night at the plate as the Twins had their issues trying to figure out Brewers starter Corbin Burnes. The Twins broke through in the fifth with an RBI double from Miguel Sano and Polanco added another run in the bottom of the seventh to give Maeda a 2-0 lead to work with.
After the Twins added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, the stage was set for Maeda in the ninth to become the first Twin to throw a no-hitter since Francisco Liriano no-hit the Chicago White Sox in May of 2011.
Unfortunately, Sogaard’s bloop to center field over the glove of Polanco to lead off the inning broke up the no-hit bid and ended Maeda’s night after eight shutout innings. He allowed the one hit and walked two.
“He was in total control. He’s showing us all of the different dimensions to what he can do out on the mound,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said, via ESPN. “Even for people who are in baseball, to watch a performance like that does put you a little bit in awe.”
Maeda’s 115 pitches were a career-high and the most in a MLB game this season, per ESPN.
The Twins went to Rogers, who immediately loaded the bases. Stuck in a jam, Rogers allowed an RBI single to Keston Hiura and a double play attempt off the bat of Jedd Gyorko went off the glove of Marwin Gonzalez to tie the game 3-3.
The Twins will go for the series victory on Wednesday when they host Brett Anderson (0-2, 4.91 ERA) and the Brewers for a 7:10 p.m. first pitch.
