Twins' Mistakes Lead To Angels' 4-3 Win In 12 Innings
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have lost their touch at Target Field.
A pair of mistakes in the 12th inning let the Los Angeles Angels score the go-ahead run Saturday in a 4-3 win over the Twins in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
Minnesota lost its fourth in a row, all at home, and fell into a tie with the Angels in the AL wild-card race. They are 1½ games behind Houston for the second spot.
"All games seem to take on different looks and flavors," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "They didn't score any of their runs on base hits today. ... Tough playing in the shadows there and we couldn't make a catch."
Dan Robertson led off the Angels 12th by reaching on second baseman Brian Dozier's error.
"Bad play by me," Dozier said, later adding: "We always think we should make every play. We're hard on ourselves, so that's good."
Robertson eventually got to third, and he scored when shortstop Eduardo Escobar knocked down Kole Calhoun's liner and threw late to the plate. Escobar was playing in and had trouble making the catch with shadows lingering over the infield because of the 12:10 p.m. start.
"Kole hit a rocket," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "They cracked the door open, but we still had to finish it off and I thought we executed well."
The early game was part of a doubleheader as a makeup to Friday night's rainout.
Blaine Boyer (3-5) allowed an unearned run in 1 1-3 innings in the loss.
Robertson reached base to lead off the 12th on an error by Minnesota second basemen Brian Dozier. Chris Iannetta walked, and Ryan Jackson sacrificed the runners to second and third. With the infield drawn in, Calhoun lined a ball to Escobar.
Miguel Sano's 17th homer tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when the big rookie slugger hit a two-run shot to the second deck in center field above the bullpens.
Minnesota missed a chance for more in the inning. After Sano's home run, Trevor Plouffe and Torii Hunter singled. But Plouffe was thrown out trying to score on Kurt Suzuki's bunt attempt.
Sano came to bat in the bottom of the eighth with a runner on second, but was intentionally walked for the first time in his career. Plouffe struck out to end the inning.
Los Angeles also missed on opportunities, leaving four runners in scoring position in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
Starters Kyle Gibson and Andrew Heaney cruised through the first five innings.
Los Angeles' Taylor Featherston had the first hit of the game in the top of the third off Gibson, who allowed three runs on five hits and three walks in 6 1-3 innings.
Los Angeles left four runners in scoring position in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. But the Angels scored runs on sacrifice fly by Mike Trout and two grounders.
Mike Morin (3-1) struck out the only two batters he faced in the 11th. Huston Street earned his 37th save.
Miguel Sano's 17th homer tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when the big rookie slugger hit a two-run shot to the second deck in center field above the bullpens. Sano came to bat in the bottom of the eighth with a runner on second, but was intentionally walked for the first time in his career. Plouffe struck out to end the inning.
Starters Kyle Gibson and Andrew Heaney cruised through the first five innings.
Los Angeles' Taylor Featherston had the first hit of the game in the top of the third off Gibson, who allowed three runs on five hits and three walks in 6 1-3 innings.
Heaney held Minnesota without a hit through five but ran into trouble in the sixth when Eddie Rosario led off with his major league-leading 14th triple. Heaney gave up two earned runs and left after walking Joe Mauer to lead off the seventh. Trevor Gott entered and allowed Sano's home run.
SECOND GAME
Minnesota's Mike Pelfrey (6-9, 4.09 ERA) will face Garrett Richards (13-11, 3.81 ERA) in the nightcap.
"I'm sure he's feeling it a little bit," Molitor said when asked if Pelfrey has pressure on him. "I'm sure everyone's feeling it a little bit. We've seen four games come and go without a victory. You start to understand those things."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: All-Star closer Glen Perkins appeared in a game for the first time since Sept. 1, making his return from back spasms. He struck out the only batter he faced, Calhoun, with two runners on in the seventh. ... RHP Trevor May also made his return to the lineup after missing two games with a sore right hip. He pitched a scoreless eighth.
UP NEXT
The finale of the four-game series on Sunday will have Minnesota rookie RHP Tyler Duffey (3-1, 3.72) facing RHP Matt Shoemaker (7-9, 4.31) for the Angels. Duffey has allowed just four earned runs in 17 innings at home this season and beat Detroit in his last outing by allowing one run in 6 1-3 innings. Shoemaker will make his first start since Sept. 1 after dealing with right forearm tightness.
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