Marlins 8, Twins 6: Unfortunately

This wasn’t necessarily a winning game for the Minnesota Twins. For the Minnesota Twins, it was a “must win or everything has to be perfect for the rest of the season.”

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The 100-loss Miami Marlins took an early lead.

Early in the first, a “double-double” by Jake Burger scored Xavier Edwards and created an immediate deficit against Twins starter David Festa.

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

In the fourth, Edwards and Burger combined again to score runs – and some bases-loaded tomfoolery increased the Fish’s feeding frenzy to 4-0.

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Meanwhile, MN hitters swung away on the first pitches for easy outs, left runners in scoring position, and/or were doubled off the bases in unfortunate and embarrassing fashion.

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

The 2014 Brigade – Caleb Thielbar & Michael Tonkin – and Griffin Jax quieted the sharp opponents for a while as Carlos Correa hit a home run and Byron Buxton belted an infield hit to put the Twins within two runs at center, 4-2 to bring innings.

Jhoan Duran managed a clean 8th place and then some good things happened:

• Royce Lewis left
• Carlos Santana doubled (closely missed a game-winning home run)

Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

• Brooks Lee doubled almost in the same spot as Santana, tying the game 4-4!

Unfortunately, Willi Castro couldn’t beat Lee and the kid stayed tied up until the 9th.

Despite some uncertainty, Duran’s second inning yielded another zero and the Twins immediately got back to work:

• Buxton singled and advanced to second on a wild throw (100% due to his blistering speed).
• Correa left intentionally
• Trevor Larch’s left dribbler almost came through SS – but forced C-4 at 2B instead.

Unfortunately (x2) a dribbler was attacked by Royce Lewis in front of HP and the inning was put on ice.

Before you could say “the dynamic is changing” — or before Cole Sands could throw four shots — the Marlins secured a 5-4 Manfredball lead.

But in the bottom of the 10th, two walks loaded the bases with zero outs. After a pop out by Ryan Jeffers, Willi Castro shot a ball to CF – MIA OFer Derek Hill made a tumbling catch and allowed just one sacrifice run to tie the game at 5-5. Austin Martin followed with a ground out and both teams continued to play as the crowd slowly thinned into the night.

Jorge Alcala saved the tie in the 11th game – and AGAIN the Twins immediately went on the attack:

• Correa IBB (again)
• Larnach single

Unfortunately (x3), with the bases loaded and one out, Lewis landed right on newly assigned 5th MIA infielder Javier Sanoja for a force play and Santana flied out to Sanoja (back in CF).

The seats behind home plate emptied a little – and the baseball game continued.

Scott Blewett entered the game in the 12th and came dangerously close to his last name, escaping a two-on jam.

Unfortunately (x4), the Twins’ B12 lasted four pitches – a fumbled ball by Jeffers that doubled Santana at second and a groundout by Castro.

Fewer fans flock to the exits – at this point it’s the sunk cost fallacy and “if you want a penny, you’re a pound”.

With his living arms dangerously thin, Blewett returned to the 13th and allowed the Manfred man to score after Otto Lopez’s double – 6-5 Fish. After more trouble, Griffin “Son of Jeff” Conine hit a single against CF, extending the visitors’ lead to 8-5.

I count about 12 Hollow Souls behind home plate now.

The Twins managed to outmaneuver Ghosty McGhostface and score 8-6 in B13, but that was all they could muster. Unfortunately (x5), the game fittingly ended with a weakly hit ball from Correa that he didn’t run hard and perhaps could have been safe at 1B due to a poor throw from Marlins pitcher Darren McCaughan.

Their final: Miami Marlins 8, Minnesota Twins 6.

Oh. What more can you say?

The final game of the season is now clear – albeit ugly – for the last weekend:

1. The Twins must sweep the Baltimore Orioles at Target Field; AND…
2. Either the Atlanta Braves sweep the Kansas City Royals OR the Chicago White Sox sweep the Detroit Tigers (hahahahahaha!)

No problem, right?

(You may have noticed a lack of photos in this roundup. Apparently this picture came too late for the folks at Getty or USA Today to stick around. Can you blame them?)

stollen

• Everyone who visited the stadium, watched on TV, listened on the radio or commented on the game thread the entire time. The real stubborn ones. #respect.
• Corey Provus’ Honesty: “The Twins Gave This Away”

Duds

• The Pohlads (permanent duds for the rest of the season, I think)
• A lack of fundamentals that probably made Little League coaches blush with rage

Commentary on the game