CHICAGO — After what happened during his previous plate appearance Thursday, nick gordon he hoped he would have another chance to make an impact. When she did, he Twins The utility did not waste its opportunity.
Two innings after a bunt attempt, Gordon helped the Twins end a long and frustrating day at the plate with a big rally. gordon and Jorge Polanco each had run-scoring hits and the Twins avoided a series sweep with a 7-3, 12-inning victory over the Chicago White Sox in the Guaranteed Rate Field.
Gordon hit a run on a double and then Polanco singled in two more during a five-inning rally for the Twins, whose relievers drew five intentional walks as they successfully worked their way through Chicago’s lineup over five innings.
“When something like (the pop out) happens and then you get another chance, it feeds you,” Gordon said. “I was definitely thinking about that. I definitely wanted to redeem myself and put us in a better position. I couldn’t get the job done there. I definitely didn’t want to do that twice.”
Given the choice, the Twins might prefer to take a different route to victory than the one they used Thursday. Although they got the job done, nothing about Thursday was easy.
starting pitcher for the White Sox Lucas Giolito he blocked Twins hitters throughout, causing them to expand the zone against his four-seam fastball and slider. Giolito faced three over the minimum in five scoreless innings and was only touched by a Carlos Correa solo home run in the sixth inning, a blast that extended the team’s franchise-tying home run streak to 16 games.
When Byron Buxton hit a game-tying home run reynaldo lopez with two out in the eighth inning, it accounted for the Twins’ third hit of the game. They wouldn’t get another until Gordon doubled in the 12th, a 15-batter span.
Gordon was part of the quiet stretch of the offense. Opening of the tenth inning with automatic runner willy castro at second base, Gordon was asked to sacrifice the runner. He flied out and the inning ended two batters later when a hard one-hopper from Correa resulted in a double play.
But with the Twins’ bullpen ducking and weaving its way through Chicago’s lineup, Gordon was given another shot. This time he came to bat with a run on a Tim Anderson error, two aboard at 12 and no outs. facing left sammy peraltaMaking his major league debut, Gordon ripped a four-seam fastball into the gap between left-center field. center fielder though Louis Robert Jr. was on the move, his ramming effort wasn’t enough to stop Gordon’s 104.5 mph line finding the turf for a run-scoring double and a 4-2 lead.
“That was a very significant moment for the game and probably for him personally,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “You need someone to come up and line one up somewhere, just do it better than the pitcher. And it’s hard. It’s challenging to do. He went up there and hit him so hard he opened the breach. And then he’s on.”
Was it ever?
After struggling with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series, the Twins led the game. Correa followed a walk off max kepler with a walk that scored a run to make it 5-2. Then Jorge Polanco singled in two more runs to put the contest out of reach.
Gordon’s double was his third highlight of the series and is another sign that he could be about to blow up after a rocky start to the season. Gordon, the team’s most improved player in 2022, got off to a 6-for-52 start through last Wednesday despite a fair amount of hard contact.
Sports Info Solutions research suggested Gordon’s contact should have resulted in an additional eight hits. Instead of hitting .269, Gordon was hitting .115 with a .324 OPS. Despite his struggles and a fair amount of bad luck, Gordon has remained focused in the cage with the Twins’ hitting coaches.
The work has paid off since Sunday, when Gordon singled in one run and bunted in another. He hit a game-tying solo homer in Tuesday night’s loss and gave the Twins a brief lead with a home run in Wednesday’s loss.
“He’s been working hard to get a good rhythm so he can help us win games,” Correa said. “It didn’t start the way he wanted to start, but he sure has been working and getting better every day. You saw this series. He gave us some big shots and he’s the reason we won this game.”
Gordon said the key, as always, is a positive mindset. Although Robert has exceptional speed and nearly ran over Gordon’s line drive, the Twins’ first rounder in 2014 believed the ball would not be caught despite their previous bad luck.
“I know I hit him really well, so I knew I was going to have to make a big play,” Gordon said. “Thank God it passed.”
Memories with Carlos
Speaking to reporters before Thursday’s game, Correa was asked if he had heard the comments made Wednesday night by the White Sox reliever. Kenan Middletonwho struck out the shortstop to end the game and later called him a “cheater.”
“I’ve heard worse things,” Correa said. “I’m glad she’s doing well and playing well and can take care of her family. Obviously, it’s tough. It is getting better and that is why you are throwing in high leverage situations for them. I’m glad he’s here again performing and supporting his family.”
A key member of 2017 Houston AstrosContempt from players and fans is not new to Correa.
White Sox reliever joseph kelly he threw Correa and fellow Astros Alex Bregmann in 2020, earning the pitcher an eight-game suspension that was reduced to five. Opposition fans also constantly shower Correa with “cheater” chants over his involvement in a sign-stealing scandal that rocked Major League Baseball.
A pitcher for him angels of los angeles from 2017 to 2021, Middleton commented on Correa without asking.
“I knew that I was going to face Correa, and I don’t like him. So it was great,” Middleton said. “I like that. I really enjoyed it. … I mean, he’s a cheater.”
After congratulating Middleton on his return to the big leagues, Correa almost gives him a souvenir as well. The shortstop’s home run in the sixth inning landed in the bleachers just above the covered portion of the bullpen where White Sox relievers usually sit.
Late entry strategy pays off
Baldelli’s late-game tactics gave a clear idea of how badly he wanted to win Thursday and avoid a series sweep. Not only did his hitters attempt several unsuccessful sacrifice bunts in extra innings, but the Twins’ pitching staff tied a club record by issuing five intentional walks.
Beginning with Juan DuranRobert’s free pass to Robert in the eighth inning, Twins relievers intentionally walked batters in four straight innings. Robert was intentionally walked twice, as the Twins clearly preferred to face hanser albert at critical points. Andres Benintendi he walked in the 10th and 12th innings to face the pinch runner billy hamilton instead.
eloy jimenez received the other free pass.
“It was a must win for us, especially going into Cleveland,” Correa said. “We wanted to make sure we got this one and we did.”
The ploy worked perfectly as the batters behind each giveaway were removed, including three strikeouts.
Twins relievers allowed one unearned run in five innings pitched. Emilio Pagan, who got the win by striking out two in a scoreless 11th, gave up the final free pass when Baldelli opted for Hamilton over Benintendi with two outs and a runner on second. Pagán struck out Hamilton to send him to the 12th inning.
“You have to manage the lineup and they definitely have some guys that you don’t want to let them beat you, especially in that situation,” Pagán said. “It’s great that he’s shown the confidence in us to be able to get into the zone when we have to.”
veteran reliever brock stewart he faced the biggest challenge when Baldelli intentionally had him load the bases with one out in the tenth inning. With Jimenez starting, Baldelli opted to walk him and Stewart struck out Anderson. Robert was walked to load the bases, but Stewart struck out Alonso and Andrus to load them out.
“We’re not looking for situations to do it and just put people on base,” Baldelli said. “It kind of makes it harder for relievers. They really have to step up and I think it’s a good challenge for them when we put them in those spots. Today I think it made sense to do it and the guys responded well. … We will intentionally walk as many guys as it takes to win a ballgame.”
The five free passes were two short of the American League record of seven set by the 1933 New York Yankees and 1962 California Angels.
(Photo of Gordon after hitting a home run on Tuesday: Kamil Krzaczynski / USA Today)
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