Herrmann's First Career Grand Slam Leads Twins Over Angels 10-3 In Extra Innings
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Chris Herrmann, making an emergency start behind the plate for expectant father Joe Mauer, hit his first career grand slam in a seven-run 10th inning that sent the Minnesota Twins past the Los Angeles Angels 10-3 on Tuesday night.
Ryan Doumit snapped a 3-all tie in the 10th with an RBI double against Angels closer Ernesto Frieri (0-2). Herrmann followed a one-out intentional walk to Clete Thomas with his second big league homer and Minnesota's first grand slam since Mauer's shot off Kansas City's Luke Hochevar last Sept. 1.
Twins No. 9 hitter Pedro Florimon capped the rally with his sixth homer, a two-run shot against Billy Buckner. Florimon also had an RBI groundout in the seventh.
Albert Pujols and Mark Trumbo homered for Los Angeles.
Mauer was scratched just before gametime and left the team to be with his wife, Maddie, who went into labor with twins. As a result, Herrmann made his seventh start at catcher in the majors and fourth this season.
Casey Fien retired Howie Kendrick on an inning-ending double play in the eighth with two on. But All-Star closer Glen Perkins (2-0) allowed the tying run in the ninth on a bases-loaded walk to Erick Aybar before retiring J.B. Shuck on an inning-ending double play -- the Angels' major league-worst 99th.
The blown save was the left-hander's third in 27 chances and it snapped his scoreless streak at 19 2-3 innings.
Justin Morneau singled with one out in the Twins eighth against Kevin Jepsen, and Doumit followed with an RBI double to right-center to snap a 2-all tie. All 11 runs Jepsen has allowed this season have come at home.
Angels right fielder Josh Hamilton missed his second straight game because of stiffness in his right ankle.
Minnesota rookie Kyle Gibson allowed two runs and five hits through six innings. He struck out four.
Gibson, who did not allow a home run in 22 1-3 innings over his four previous big league starts, gave up two in the fourth. Pujols led off with his 17th of the season and 492nd of his career, a towering drive to center field that rookie Aaron Hicks just missed on a leaping attempt before losing his glove on the other side of the fence.
Two outs later, Trumbo hit his team-high 22nd to right field. It was the 10th time in their two seasons as teammates that Pujols and Trumbo homered in the same game. The Angels are 7-3 on those occasions, with all three losses coming in extra innings.
Los Angeles starter Tommy Hanson threw 76 pitches over 5 1-3 innings in his first start off the disabled list, allowing a run and four hits with eight strikeouts and no walks. The right-hander had been sidelined since June 21 because of a forearm strain.
Scott Downs, who hasn't given up an earned run in 32 career innings against the Twins spanning 31 appearances, completed the sixth after walking his first batter. The left-hander hasn't been scored on in his last 29 appearances overall, one shy of Francisco Rodriguez's franchise record.
Dane De La Rosa couldn't hold the lead, however, giving up the tying run in the seventh on Florimon's groundout after Thomas and Herrmann opened the inning with singles and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Hicks.
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