Some final notes and thoughts following the latest debacle:
Postgame: The losing ways continue as the Twins fall 11 games under .500
The Twins led 5-1 on Monday but lost 6-5 to Milwaukee. They have scored 30 runs over their past four games -- and have lost them all.
July 3, 2018 at 5:12AM
The first batter in the 10th told the story. Zack Littell plunked Nate Orf with an 0-2 curve that didn't curve.
"It backed up," he said. "Just threw a couple good ones right before, and I tried to make it better or whatever the case may be. It just backed up on me and got away."
It seemed inevitable that Milwaukee was going to win. Milwaukee loaded the bases, but the Twins got lucky with a five man infield that produced a force out of Orf at home (more on Orf later).
But Littell kept missing the plate against Brad Miller until the winning run was forced in by a walk. In two appearances, Littell has an 18.90 ERA.
"It's a learning experience," he said. "It's tough right now, but it's a marathon, it's not a sprint. Keep learning from this and get better."
Littell was optioned back to Class AAA Rochester after the game. A corresponding move will be announced tomorrow.
Odd double play
Travis Shaw batted with one out and Jesus Aguilar on first base. Shaw hit a grounder to Brian Dozier as Aguilar ran toward second. Aguilar slowed down to avoid being tagged out, and Dozier threw to first to get Shaw.
Joe Mauer threw back to second, but wildly. The ball went into the outfield as Aguilar headed for third. Eddie Rosario overran the ball, and Aguilar was waved home. Rosario recovered in time to throw Aguilar out at home.
Score that a 4-3-7-2 double play.
Mistakes
The Twins have earned these losses. Let's track the mistakes from Monday:
Fourth inning: Willians Astudillo, after reaching on a single, gets picked off first base.
Fifth inning: Astudillo, playing third, gets eaten up by a grounder by Ryan Braun for an error as a run scores.
Ninth inning: Joe Mauer appears to ground out to end the inning. But Miller commits a fielding error. Eduardo Escobar, who was on second when the ball was put in play, takes too big of a turn around third. Miller recovers the ball and starts a rundown to nab Escobar to end the ninth.
Things that costs a team games....
Finally...
Just for some levity (isn't there healing in laughter?)
Nate Orf made his major league debut for the Brewers tonight. I saw the name and had flashbacks.
When I worked at the Kansas City Star, I covered an indoor soccer team called the Kansas City Attack. Their main rivals were the Cleveland Crunch.
The Crunch's goalkeeper, one of the best in the league, was named Otto Orf.
Orf wore the number 00. His number was the same as his initials.
I'll show myself out...
Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involving the Tampa Bay Rays to the first two months of the season in an attempt to avoid summer rain at open-air Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home following damage to Tropicana Field.
