Twins clinch home field for first round; AL Central title to be decided Sunday – Minneapolis Star Tribune

The Twins might have wondered whether Little Luis, the on-base trigger plug for the Twins homer-heavy offense, would be ready.

Rather, he singled down the right-field line, driving in Ehire Adrianza.

” You desire everything that you can possibly have in your favor,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli stated. Theres still something to play for in the season finale Sunday. After a first-inning hustle double to right-center in which he revealed no problems running, Arraez scored on Nelson Cruzs two-out single. An error to left-center in the fifth scored Kepler again, and in the seventh, Arraez came to the plate with an opportunity to join Kirby Puckett as the only Twins player ever to double four times in a video game.

The Twins have actually clinched a share of that title, but the White Sox (35-24) can still tie the Twins (36-23) for the very first place with a win over the Cubs and a Twins loss to the Reds on Sunday. Chicago, by virtue of its better record amongst AL Central teams, would claim the No. 2 seed in the AL playoffs, dropping the Twins to No. 4– and a first-round meeting with the New York Yankees, who have beaten them in 13 straight postseason video games.

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” I nearly feel bad,” Rogers deadpanned, “due to the fact that he had a heck of a day and all people resemble, Thats a routine Arraez day.”.

Luis Arraez collected 4 hits in his first video game considering that Sept. 8, 3 of them doubles, and Minnesota battered Cincinnati 7-3 at Target Field. The success guarantees that the Twins, who still hold a one-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central, will be among the leading four seeds in the AL playoffs and thus will host all three video games of a first-round series start Tuesday

” You want everything that you can perhaps have in your favor,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli stated. “Were extremely comfortable, weve taken pleasure in playing here at Target Field. So well take these games here really gladly.”.

After a first-inning hustle double to right-center in which he revealed no issues running, Arraez scored on Nelson Cruzs two-out single. His liner to the base of the left-field wall in the third inning scored Kepler and put him in position to score on Eddie Rosarios double. A screamer to left-center in the fifth scored Kepler again, and in the seventh, Arraez concerned the plate with an opportunity to join Kirby Puckett as the only Twins player ever to double 4 times in a video game.

They require not fret. Arraez drilled line drives to all parts of the ballpark after being activated earlier in the day, and all four hits produced runs.

Thats Luis Arraez,” the 2nd baseman said. “I like to spray the ball all over the field.

Theres still something to play for in the season ending Sunday. It d be great to put another one up there.”.

The Twins will open the playoffs at Target Field for the very first time since 2010, that much they achieved o Saturday. However there is still work to be done Sunday.

Still, Saturdays triumph was a convenient tune-up for the playoffs: A showcase for Arraezs strong return, for Max Keplers resurgence, for Michael Pinedas fortitude to work out of trouble, and the bullpens continued supremacy. All will be critical come Tuesday, whether their opponent is the Yankees, Blue Jays, White Sox, Indians or Astros– all still mathematically possibilities.

MLB standings|Scoreboard.

” It was a huge moment in the game,” Baldelli said. “Those are the circumstances that we desire Rog in there for.”.

” I do not have any specific group that I want to deal with,” stated Pineda, a former Yankee who is scheduled to pitch in his very first postseason video game Thursday, if essential. “Whatever team I need to deal with, Big Mike desires to be prepared.”.

Pineda tossed 80 pitches over four innings and got away from a number of jams, enabling two runs on four hits and three strolls. And the Twins bullpen held Cincinnati to one run over the final 5 innings, with Rogers setting out six-time All-Star Joey Votto on a 3-2 curveball with the bases loaded.

Boxscore: Twins 7, Reds 3.

The Twins were held without a home run for the second straight night, however it matters little bit when you acquire eight doubles, simply one off the team record.

Thats Luis Arraez,” the 2nd baseman stated.