MIGUEL SANO LEGS OUT WALKOFF WINNER AS TWINS EDGE BREWERS ON OPENING DAY
Eternal Baseball Press
MINNEAPOLIS – Miguel Sano is better known for crushing home runs (and he did that too) but his legs carried the Twins past the Brewers for an Opening Day walkoff victory.
Sano’s eighth-inning moonshot home run off Milwaukee reliever Ken Sanders put Minnesota ahead 2-1. Minnesota starter Walter “The Big Train” Johnson chugged through the first two batters of the ninth inning before Phil Garner pinch hit for star shortstop Robin Yount. First baseman Cecil Cooper had watched Johnson strike out eight Twins so far, but he smashed a game-tying pinch hit solo home run deep over the centerfield wall to tie the score 2-2.
Brewers closer Josh Hader cruised through the beginning of the ninth inning, retiring Heinie Manush and Rod Carew on easy fly balls. Harmon Killebrew walked, then took third base on Mitch Garver’s single to right field. With two outs and Roy Sievers on-deck, Hader pitched to Miguel Sano. The Twins third baseman drove a hard grounder deep into the hole at shortstop, and late sub Don Money’s throw to first was not in time. Sano legged out the beefiest walkoff single of the young season, as Killebrew scored and the Twins celebrated a thrilling 3-2 victory.
Milwaukee’s Chris Bosio pitched well (5.2 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 3 K) but Hader (0-1) took the loss (1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K). Walter Johnson (1-0) earned the complete game win (9 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K).
Goose Goslin also homered for Minnesota – a seventh inning blast off Milwaukee reliever Dan Plesac.
Minnesota tries to make it two straight tomorrow night, sending left-hander John Santana to the mound to face Milwaukee lefty Teddy Higuera. First pitch from Target Field is at 7:05 PM CST.
Photo Credit: Target Field Panorama by Jonathan Miske
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